Citizenship and Immigration Committee on March 1st, 2022

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

I'm sorry for interrupting, Mr. Dornier. Your time is up.

We will now proceed to Mr. Hallan for our second round of questioning.

Mr. Hallan, you will have five minutes for your round of questioning.

[Jasraj Singh Hallan, Conservative, Calgary Forest Lawn, AB]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you to the witnesses.

Madam Chair, before I get to my questions, I want to discuss the urgent motion I put forward with regard to Ukraine. Is that something we can do now?

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Yes. The motion was moved. You have time.

[Jasraj Singh Hallan, Conservative, Calgary Forest Lawn, AB]

I just want to discuss that with everyone who is here. There was a friendly amendment by Ms. Lalonde, which I think we can incorporate. Mr. Genuis also put forward an amendment, and Ms. Kwan had a motion of her own. I don't know if it's the will of my colleagues that we combine all of these motions and amendments, because they are all pretty similar, through a friendly kind of amendment and then pass it through today. I think it's quite urgent, given the situation in Ukraine.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Ms. Lalonde, go ahead.

[Marie-France Lalonde, Liberal, Orléans, ON]

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

As Mr. Hallan has suggested, I would like to propose a friendly amendment to his motion. I'm not sure about the will of the committee. Do you have to read your motion, and then I would propose my amendment? I do believe that would be the first scenario. Then we can move on with the rest.

But we do have witnesses. I'm not sure how my colleague wants to proceed.

[Jasraj Singh Hallan, Conservative, Calgary Forest Lawn, AB]

Given the urgent situation, I think it's best if we can pass this now with all the other colleagues. I think everyone is pretty much on board.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Mr. Hallan has moved a motion:

That the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration report the following to the House: We (a) condemn the unwarranted and unprovoked attack on Ukraine, which was ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin, a clear violation of international law, and (b) call on the Government of Canada to support refugees who are impacted by this conflict and ensure that it is prepared to process applications on an urgent basis without compromising needs in other areas.

That's the motion Mr. Hallan has moved. Now we will have debate on this.

Ms. Lalonde, go ahead.

[Marie-France Lalonde, Liberal, Orléans, ON]

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

[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.

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

Personally, I only received Ms. Kwan's motion; I didn't receive the other ones.

Could someone please send them to me?

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

The motion Mr. Hallan brought in was sent out to all the members last week, and the clerk has sent Ms. Lalonde's amendment just now.

Ms. Lalonde, go ahead.

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

I'm sorry, but I didn't get them.

[Marie-France Lalonde, Liberal, Orléans, ON]

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

As my colleague mentioned, I'd like to move an amendment to the motion. If my amendment is accepted, the text of the motion will read as follows:

That the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration report the following to the House: We (a) condemn the unwarranted and unprovoked attack on Ukraine, which was ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin, a clear violation of international law, and (b) call on the Government of Canada to support refugees who are impacted by this conflict and ensure that it is prepared to process applications on an urgent basis without compromising needs in other areas.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you, Ms. Lalonde.

[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.

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

Madam Chair, I don't mean to be a fly in the ointment here.

The witnesses are here to participate in this important meeting.

I realize that committee members will want to debate the motions, but I'd like us first to wrap up the meeting with our witnesses. It's a matter of respect toward them; they've come here to testify.

Then we can debate the motions. We're here to discuss francophone students, but we're debating a motion relating to Ukraine. The witnesses are here and it's important to listen to them. They've prepared for the meeting and we must show them some respect.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Yes.

Just so it is clear to all the members, Mr. Hallan has moved a motion, and Ms. Lalonde has moved an amendment to that motion. Right now we have the amendment moved by Ms. Lalonde on the floor. We will have to deal with that, and then this motion, before we can proceed. We will have to deal with all those members who wish to speak to this amendment and the motion before we go ahead.

[Sukh Dhaliwal, Liberal, Surrey—Newton, BC]

Madam Chair, I have a point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Yes, Mr. Dhaliwal.

[Sukh Dhaliwal, Liberal, Surrey—Newton, BC]

Madam Chair, I've been trying to get your attention for the last little while, but somehow—

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

I have a speaking order. After Ms. Lalonde, we have Mr. Dhaliwal, and then Mr. Genuis and Ms. Kwan.

[Sukh Dhaliwal, Liberal, Surrey—Newton, BC]

I agree with Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe that we should go to the witnesses and then work on this motion, because it's a wise thing to do and I'm fully supportive of it.