Evidence of meeting #7 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was francophone.
A video is available from Parliament.
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Program Policy, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Madam Chair, I'm not sure that we have information that could be tabled in the way that the question was asked of us.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Maybe you could answer the question in writing to the committee, then.
Thank you.
Conservative
Brad Redekopp Conservative Saskatoon West, SK
Yes, thank you.
There's been a significant amount of discussion around racism in this meeting and in previous meetings, so I have a motion I would like to move, Madam Chair:
Whereas, officials from the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada have appeared at the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration on the dates of February 15 and February 17, 2022. The committee send for all briefing notes, memos and emails from senior officials, prepared for the Minister and Deputy Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship regarding biases or racism within the department; and action plan and/or timelines to address said biases or racism; that the committee receive the information no later than Wednesday, March 30, 2022; that matters of Cabinet confidence and national security be excluded from the request; and that any redactions to protect the privacy of Canadian citizens and permanent residents whose names and personal information may be included in the documents, as well as public servants who have been providing assistance on this matter, be made by the Office of the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel of the House of Commons and that these documents be posted on the committee’s web page.
I've submitted this to the clerk, and there is translation as well.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid
Have all the members received the motion in both official languages?
Go ahead, Ms. Kwan.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I would certainly support the motion that's being tabled. I think it is important for us to get this information to have a better understanding of what's going on within the IRCC and the concerns that I think we all share.
Liberal
Fayçal El-Khoury Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
Madam Chair, I would like to have the motion in both official languages.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid
Yes, the clerk of the committee is emailing it to all the members.
Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe, go ahead.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
I would just like to add that I want to have the motion in French.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid
We will suspend the meeting for two minutes so that everyone can read the motion.
I think we can proceed.
Mr. El-Khoury, go ahead.
Liberal
Fayçal El-Khoury Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
Madam Chair, we do not have a lot of time left and we need to study this important motion in order to come to the right decision. I personally have other parliamentary commitments, so I am asking you to postpone our study of this motion to our next meeting.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
This motion essentially asks for information. Given the gravity of the situation, I think it is very important for us to obtain that information so we can properly assess it and incorporate that understanding into the work of this committee.
I would absolutely support this motion.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Madam Chair, we could excuse our witnesses. They have been so kind to us and have had a hard day. We don't really have to force them to listen to our debate on a motion that does not concern them.
As for the motion, whether we discuss it at the next meeting or today, most members seem to be inclined to support it. I could very well accept it today, which would bring the matter to a close. Actually, I see that the NDP, the Conservatives and the Bloc Québécois agree with the motion, which I too see as an important one.
The motion will undoubtedly be passed. So let's vote right away and be done with it. At the same time, our witnesses could go and get a little rest.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I'd like a recorded vote on the motion, please.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid
Okay.
Madam Clerk, please proceed with the vote.
(Motion agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0)
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid
The motion is adopted. I will read the motion:
Whereas, officials from the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada have appeared at the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration on the dates of February 15 and February 17, 2022. The committee send for all briefing notes, memos and emails from senior officials, prepared for the Minister and Deputy Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship regarding biases or racism within the department; and action plan and/or timelines to address said biases or racism; that the committee receive the information no later than Wednesday, March 30, 2022; that matters of Cabinet confidence and national security be excluded from the request; and that any redactions to protect the privacy of Canadian citizens and permanent residents whose names and personal information may be included in the documents, as well as public servants who have been providing assistance on this matter, be made by the Office of the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel of the House of Commons and that these documents be posted on the committee’s web page.
I would like to thank our officials for appearing before the committee today.
There are just a few reminders for members of the committee.
On March 1, we will conclude this study with one last panel and then the drafting instructions. The minister has kindly confirmed that he is available to appear for the estimates on Thursday, March 3. As mentioned in the last meeting, the minister will return on March 24 on the study of differential outcomes. A prioritized witness list for the study on differential outcomes is due tomorrow to the clerk of the committee.
Is it the pleasure of the committee to adjourn the meeting?