Citizenship and Immigration Committee on June 5th, 2023

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Just before we get going, I wish to reopen debate on my previously adjourned motion on the Indian students. The motion reads:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee conduct a study into news reports that international students admitted into Canada with valid study permits were issued fraudulent college acceptance letters by immigration consultants, and are now facing deportation, and that this study undertake at least three meetings; that the committee invite the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship for one meeting along with his departmental officials to testify; that the committee invite the Minister responsible for the Canada Border Services Agency for one meeting along with his departmental officials to testify; that the committee invite affected international students and representatives from Colleges & Institutes Canada; and that the committee request that the Canada Border Services Agency temporarily suspend the deportation of affected international students until those selected as witnesses can testify before the committee.

As I've said before, I have spoken with these students—

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

I'm sorry for interrupting. It's a dilatory motion, so you just have to bring it and we have to go into a vote.

(Motion negatived: nays 6; yeas 5)

The motion is defeated.

We are back on the subamendment to CPC-8. We will now vote on the subamendment.

(Subamendment negatived: nays 7; yeas 4)

Now we are on the amendment, CPC-8.

Mr. Redekopp, go ahead.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Thanks, Madam Chair.

I think we spoke at length about this yesterday and had a great time last night with all of us here, so I don't think you want to hear all that again. Some of us may want to hear it, but some of us don't. I just want to let you know that we have another amendment to do after this one is completed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Mr. Clerk, would you please take the vote? We will be voting on CPC-8.

(Amendment negatived: nays 7; yeas 4 [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Yes, Mr. Kmiec.

[Tom Kmiec, Conservative, Calgary Shepard, AB]

Madam Chair, I move 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:

24(6) where citizenship ceremonies are conducted virtually, they must

a) be recorded for the purposes of confirming the oath of citizenship has been appropriately carried out

b) be geolocated within the territory of Canada

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

I have a point of order, Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Yes, Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe, go ahead.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

I have the amendment before me, but the interpreter unfortunately did not have it, and could therefore not interpret it. It's not only for me, but for everyone watching online. The interpreter should be provided with the amendment so that she can interpret it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

She has it.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

She says that she has just received it.

Could we please have the amendment read in French, for the people who are watching?

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Can I ask Mr. Kmiec to please read the amendment again?

[Tom Kmiec, Conservative, Calgary Shepard, AB]

I'm going to read it in French, Madam Chair. 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 : 24 (6) Lorsque les cérémonies de citoyenneté sont virtuelles, elles doivent a) être enregistrées afin de confirmer que le serment de citoyenneté a été prêté de façon appropriée b) être géolocalisées sur le territoire du Canada

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you, Mr. Kmiec.

We have amendment CPC-9 on the floor.

[Tom Kmiec, Conservative, Calgary Shepard, AB]

Can I explain the logic of this?

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Yes, Mr. Kmiec, go ahead.

[Tom Kmiec, Conservative, Calgary Shepard, AB]

Very briefly, the logic is as follows. We know that certain citizens.... As I mentioned in a previous meeting, the Order Paper question that was signed off on by the parliamentary secretary showed that there are indeed thousands of virtual ceremonies being held. This would be an amendment to the act to ensure that, when you do take it virtually in those instances where it does happen, you are geolocated to the country of Canada and you are not overseas in another country when you take your oath of citizenship, and that we record those.

It would be a good practice for IRCC to do more recordings and to keep them on file. That way they can confirm whether the oath of citizenship was taken.

Thank you, Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you.

Seeing no further debate, we will vote on amendment CPC-9.

(Amendment negatived: nays 6; yeas 5)

Mr. Kmiec, you have the floor.

[Tom Kmiec, Conservative, Calgary Shepard, AB]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I do have another amendment I'd like to move. After I have read it in English, I will read it in French as well.

I move 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

24(7): where a citizenship ceremony has been scheduled, the Department must provide the person with at least seven days' notice prior to the date of the ceremony.

I will now read it in French.

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 24 (7) Lorsqu'une cérémonie de citoyenneté est prévue, le ministère donne à la personne un préavis d'au moins sept jours avant la date de la cérémonie.

I'll explain the logic of this one. It's pretty simple. After hearing some of the debate at the table about persons having difficulty planning ahead of time, I did take the liberty of looking up what other countries do. Right now, we can make mandatory at least a seven days' notice for a person when they have a citizenship ceremony scheduled. In the United Kingdom, citizenship ceremonies have to happen within three months of receiving an invitation, so there is actually quite a bit more notice being provided. In New Zealand, there is a four weeks' notice before the ceremony, so it is not unusual for countries to provide a notice period for the department to inform the person that they are now eligible to take the oath of citizenship, and by which day. There is a notice period that gives people time to plan out when they can reasonably be there, and if there is a need to reschedule, they can take it up with the department.

So that's the logic. It's just an easier method for new citizens to take the oath of citizenship, making sure of their timeline so that their families can all be there.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Go ahead, Mr. Redekopp.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

I just want to let you know that we will have another amendment after this one.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you.

We will go to a vote on CPC-10.

(Amendment negatived: nays 6; yeas 5)

Next up is Mr. Kmiec.

[Tom Kmiec, Conservative, Calgary Shepard, AB]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I have another amendment I'd like to propose. This one is that Bill S-245 be amended by adding after line 18 on page 1 the following new clause—

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

I have a point of order, Madam Chair. The interpreter doesn't have the amendment.

I'm sorry. I'm not doing this for myself, but for those who are watching us.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you, Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe. Give me just one minute.

The clerk is sending it to the interpreters.

Mr. Kmiec, could you please start? The interpreters have it and the officials have it. It has been sent to all members by email.

[Tom Kmiec, Conservative, Calgary Shepard, AB]

I will begin with the English, and then I'll read the French.

I move 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

24(8) where a citizenship ceremony has been scheduled for a person, employers in federally regulated industries must grant that person leave for one day to accommodate the ceremony.

I am now going to read it in French.

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