Citizenship and Immigration Committee on June 5th, 2023

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I'd just note that Mrs. Lalonde was speaking of that very issue. I wanted to set the record straight on that, that it's not us who are slowing this down.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Mr. Kmiec, go ahead.

[Tom Kmiec, Conservative, Calgary Shepard, AB]

On the matter of this amendment, amendment 23, we've passed more amendments at this meeting today than I think at any prior meeting. I stand to be corrected, but I think we have. We take every amendment seriously; we've been going through them during this process. I think this amendment is worthy of consideration just on the merits of the individual amendment.

We weren't able to submit new amendments at the time. As you will remember, Madam Chair, the opposite side voted down my proposal to have amendments brought in by May 15. We're simply trying to get through each of our ideas and to see that they are given the exact same time all other amendments are given.

I think this is a worthy one to do. Citizenship ceremonies are planned all the time throughout the year by the department. We can legislate—we're legislators and that's exactly what we're supposed to be doing at this table—and give direction to the department that they shall not do certain things in a certain way or that they shall do certain things in a different way. That is the whole point of legislation. This is very simple. It's just directing them not to schedule citizenship ceremonies on a very specific day of significance to Sikhism. That's really all we're asking them to do. We have not been prolonging debate on any of the prior amendments today, bringing them to a vote expeditiously and making the points we need to make on behalf of our constituents and supporters throughout the country who do believe this is important.

I think amendment 23, along with other amendments we may have to bring forward.... I'll note that there has been plenty of extra time allocated for the consideration of clause-by-clause by you, Madam Chair, and there hasn't been time given for international students. There are issues that are very urgent—

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

I'm sorry for interrupting, Mr. Kmiec, but I would request that you please keep your comments to CPC-23.

[Tom Kmiec, Conservative, Calgary Shepard, AB]

Back to CPC-23.... We have other amendments that we will continue to propose at this table. This one is worthy of consideration, and I hope all members will support it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you.

Mr. Perkins, go ahead.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

This is my first attendance at this committee, although I have been an associate member of the committee since I was elected.

Since it was raised by the government member, Mrs. Lalonde, I would just say that we have not been having a great deal of discussion on this amendment or other amendments, in order to have speedy consideration of these things. As some of the government members will know, I had the honour of sitting on the finance committee for 27 hours recently and talking for 18 of them. We could start doing that here, if we wanted to, but I think the nature of collegiality.... I think the opposition members have been very generous in just introducing the amendment, as we have been, and not speaking in great detail, each one of us, to that amendment, which we could do.

If the government would like us to start doing that, they could keep questioning the validity of these things, and I'm sure we can find the time to speak more frequently to these amendments, all of us who have a right to speak here.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you.

Seeing no further debate, we will vote on CPC-23.

(Amendment negatived: nays 7; yeas 4)

Mr. Kmiec.

[Tom Kmiec, Conservative, Calgary Shepard, AB]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

This is CPC-24. I'm giving you warning now that there is a CPC-25. I'll wait for it to be distributed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you, Mr. Kmiec. While it is being distributed, you can go ahead, please.

[Tom Kmiec, Conservative, Calgary Shepard, AB]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

As I did earlier, I will now read out amendment CPC‑24, beginning with the French version.

Je propose que le projet de loi S‑245 soit modifié par adjonction, après la ligne 19, page 1, du nouvel article suivant:

1.4 L'article 24 de la Loi est modifié par adjonction de ce qui suit: Respect des jours fériés et des jours d'importance pour la promotion de l'identité multiculturelle du Canada 24.1(10) Les cérémonies de citoyenneté ne peuvent avoir lieu le jour de Bandi Chhor Divas.

On Bandi Chhor Divas, Sikhs commemorate Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji for standing up for the freedom and human rights of others at the cost of his own, celebrating his release and that of the 52 others he ushered to freedom. Together we admire his inspiring endurance and compassion, and honour the message of hope that he brought to all those suffering oppression.

I think it's important that we ensure that citizenship ceremonies are not held on that day so that Sikhs across the country who are eligible to take an oath of citizenship do not have to choose between taking the oath of citizenship and commemorating this great guru.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you.

Mr. Kmiec has moved an amendment, CPC-24. Seeing no debate, we will vote.

(Amendment negatived: nays 7; yeas 4)

Go ahead, Mr. Redekopp.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I have CPC-25 that's being distributed. I'll just wait for that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Can you please hold for two minutes?

Okay, it has been distributed, Mr. Redekopp.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

This is for new clause 1.4. It is that Bill S‑245 be amended by adding after line 18 on page 1 the following new clause:

1.4 Section 24 of the Act is amended by adding the following:

Respecting holidays and days of significance to promote Canada's multicultural identity

24.1(11) Citizenship ceremonies may not be scheduled on the first day of Ramadan.

As we all know, Ramadan is a 30-day festival or celebration. It's a very important time of the year for those of the Muslim faith. That first day is always a very significant day as they begin Ramadan.

I have just a couple of things I wanted to read. Fatima from my riding told me this:

Ramadan, the 9th month of the Islamic calendar, is a time of spiritual rejuvenation when Muslims spend time reflecting on how to become the best they can be. The primary focus is fasting which fosters self control, mindfulness, gratitude, and feeding the soul. During this month, there is renewal of intention to be more [focused on] acts of worship with more prayers, charitable deeds, and better overall conduct.

She goes on to say that it's also a time when families gather to share the Iftar, or breaking of the fast together, traditionally with dates, as was the practice of the prophet Muhammad.

I'm sure all of us have been to Iftars. It's a wonderful time when.... For those of us who don't fast, it's not actually a good thing, because we end up gaining weight during the whole period. The whole point is you have to fast to balance off the Iftar, but I'm learning. I have done a little bit of fasting and my goal is to get better at that.

Mubarak sent me this, which I thought was very touching. He said:

My faith is one of the most important parts of my life. The religion of Islam is my identity, my hope and my lifeline. I like to celebrate everything that has to do with my religion. For example the month of Ramadan, it is one of the most important months on the Islamic calendar. It is a month of fasting with a lot of prayers but with very less sleep and food.... To me, it is like a physical and spiritual boot camp in which I try to enhance my spirituality, morality and seek nearness to The God Almighty not only for a month but for the entire year until the next Ramadan arrives. It also helps me physically to cleanse myself in many ways.

I think this is a very important time for Muslims in Canada. That's why I believe that the first day of Ramadan should be respected and we should not schedule citizenship ceremonies on that day.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you, Mr. Redekopp.

We have CPC-25. Seeing no debate, we will go for a vote.

(Amendment negatived: nays 7; yeas 4)

Go ahead, Mr. Redekopp.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I have another amendment, amendment CPC-26, that I'd like to distribute. I'll give you a minute.

Amendment 26 would amend Bill S-245 by adding after line 18 on page 1 the following new clause:

1.4 Section 24 of the Act is amended by adding the following:

Respecting holidays and days of significance to promote Canada's multicultural identity

24.1 (12) Citizenship ceremonies may not be scheduled on Eid al-Fitr.

Again, following on the last one, the end of the month of Ramadan is Eid al-Fitr. That's one of the great days of celebration as well in that festival, particularly since that's the day when everybody puts out their very best food and their very best of everything. Again, for me it's an exciting day to visit with families and eat way too much. It's a good thing.

Mubarak said this about Eid al-Fitr: “Eid al-Fitr is an annual celebration that is celebrated at the end of Ramadan. To me it is a day of gratitude to God Almighty for enabling me to successfully go through the month of Ramadan. It is a day of joy and happiness in which I like to go visit my family and friends, exchange gifts with them, have food during the day and on and on. Eid is particularly very exciting for children. They get gifts and mostly cash from elders.”

This is what Abbas told me: “Eid-al-Fitr is my favourite. After the blessing of the month of Ramadan when people are so pious, practise good deeds and donate generously, we celebrate Eid at the end of the month as a reward. This festival brings people together to exchange gifts and presents, meet and greet friends and families, and enjoy feasts and food.”

Again, this is a very, very significant day. In fact, I believe we had about 15,000 people come together in Saskatoon for the Eid al-Fitr celebration. That's a large number for a city like Saskatoon. Much food was consumed on that day; I can say that.

I would encourage you to accept this amendment to the bill.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you, Mr. Redekopp.

We have CPC amendment 26 on the floor.

Seeing no debate, we will vote.

(Amendment negatived: nays 7; yeas 4)

Go ahead, Mr. Redekopp.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I have amendment 27. That will be followed by amendment 28, but I'll let you distribute this one first. I'll speak to it when we're ready.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

We will have to suspend the meeting for a few minutes while this amendment, amendment 27, is being distributed.

I will suspend the meeting for a few minutes while we get food for all the members. We'll come back after that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

I call the meeting to order.

I request that everyone please take their seats. For those who are virtual, please turn on your cameras.

We have CPC amendment 27. It has been distributed.

Mr. Redekopp, you can please go ahead.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

It proposes new clause 1.4. It is that Bill S-245 be amended by adding after line 18 on page 1 the following new clause:

1.4 Section 24 of the Act is amended by adding the following:

Respecting holidays and days of significance to promote Canada's multicultural identity

24.1 (13) Citizenship ceremonies may not be scheduled on Eid al-Adha.

This is another very significant Muslim holiday. In fact, it's coming up very shortly here.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

I didn't hear about that.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

You're a comedian too. I appreciate that.

I had a couple of constituents reach out to me.

Mumtaz said, “Eid al-Adha, also known as the 'Festival of Sacrifice', is celebrated to commemorate the story of Prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. Muslims who can afford it perform the ritual of sacrificing an animal, and the meat is then distributed to the needy and shared with family and friends. This festival is also a time for family gatherings, feasting and charitable acts.”

Shorif said, “Eid al-Adha teaches us sacrifice. We share food with the elderly, poor and people in need. It reminds us of our submission to Allah.”

This is a very significant day. As with the others, I think it's very important for the department to recognize these days and avoid scheduling citizenship ceremonies on these days. I would ask for my colleagues' support on this amendment.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you.

Seeing no further debate, we will vote on CPC amendment amendment 27.

(Amendment negatived: nays 7; yeas 4)

Go ahead, Mr. Redekopp.