Citizenship and Immigration Committee on Dec. 12th, 2023

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

The motion actually says representatives of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship and representatives of Global Affairs”, and then the amendment adds representatives from the finance department.

I just want to get clarification. Are we talking about officials or are we talking about the ministers?

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Go ahead, Mr. Kmiec.

[Tom Kmiec, Conservative, Calgary Shepard, AB]

I'm open to either ministers or officials. That's why it says “representatives”.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Thank you.

Madam Kwan, is it clear?

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

It is clear.

I just want to comment on that.

In my estimation, because the issue can have political implications, I think it would be important for ministers to be invited, and not officials.

As much as I love officials—they're really good—they can't answer some of those political questions. Because there are geopolitics going on here, as was mentioned—I think it is a tactic to use suppression so Hong Kongers can't access their funds—I do think that we need to have ministers come.

To that end, I would like to subamend where it says “representatives” so that it says “minister and officials”.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Thank you.

Mr. Kmiec and Mr. McLean are next.

[Greg McLean, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

On a point of order, Mr. Chair, can we see that we don't recognize consent to adjourn, so that we don't just adjourn directly at one o'clock and we finish this debate?

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

I'm sorry. Did you say you want to adjourn the debate at one?

[Greg McLean, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

No, I want to not adjourn the debate at one, so that we can finish the study.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

I have already checked with the clerk. We have the resources until 1:15. At 1:15 we would not have any resources. If the debate is not adjourned, I'll have to suspend the meeting.

I will ask Mr. Kmiec if he had anything to say.

No?

Go ahead, Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe.

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

I am sorry. I thought we were continuing until 1:15 p.m. Has that just been decided?

I cannot stay. I have a national press conference soon because I am going to be introducing a bill, which you will all vote for eventually, but I still have to attend the press conference. I have to leave at 1 p.m.

I'm sorry. No one asked my opinion; otherwise, I would have found a replacement.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Thank you, Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe.

As the chair, I'm doing my duty. Mr. McLean asked that the debate continue. I told him and the committee members that the clerk has resources only until 1:15.

If you want to bring in a motion to adjourn the committee, you have every right as a member. You can bring that motion and I'll have to take a vote on it.

Do you want to bring in a motion to adjourn the committee meeting?

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

I have no choice. I am truly sorry, my friends, but I have to leave at 1 p.m.

Is the meeting suspended? Thank you.

[Tom Kmiec, Conservative, Calgary Shepard, AB]

You don't have consent to adjourn.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

He doesn't have consent to extend the time. Isn't that the thing? We adjourn at the normal time.

[Tom Kmiec, Conservative, Calgary Shepard, AB]

He has to suspend the meeting if he doesn't have consent to adjourn.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Do you want to suspend the meeting?

[Tom Kmiec, Conservative, Calgary Shepard, AB]

On a point of order, Chair, my understanding of the rule is that normally the chair seeks consent to adjourn the meeting. I'm just telling you that since you do not have consent to adjourn the meeting at one, you may suspend the meeting for Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe to go do his press conference. I'm just letting you know that you don't have consent to adjourn.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

I'll go to Madam Kayabaga and then at one o'clock I will suspend the meeting if there is consensus.

[Arielle Kayabaga, Liberal, London West, ON]

Mr. Chair, I move to adjourn the meeting.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

There is a motion on the floor to adjourn the meeting. There is no debate.

Mr. Clerk, take the vote, please.

(Motion agreed to: yeas 6; nays 5 [See Minutes of Proceedings])

The meeting is adjourned.