Citizenship and Immigration Committee on May 6th, 2024

[Paul Chiang, Liberal, Markham—Unionville, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Now that the motion has been voted on, I think we have important work to do in regard to the Afghan letter. We have taken too much time getting that letter completed. We have only a few paragraphs to go, and I wanted to see if we could finish the letter so that we can move on and have the ministers and department officials come in, speak to us and answer questions for us.

I would like to not delay that anymore. We should move on with getting the letter done at our next meeting, because today the time is running out, and we're almost at the one o'clock mark. I want to ask members across and colleagues here what they think.

At this time, I don't think we have enough time to get any more business done today. If they like, we can either suspend or adjourn the meeting until Wednesday.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Thank you.

Mr. Chiang, I'm sure you are well aware that you have to bring the motion to adjourn. Only then can I call the—

I see Mr. Chiang and then Madam Kwan.

[Paul Chiang, Liberal, Markham—Unionville, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I move to adjourn the meeting.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Okay. It is not debatable.

All in favour?

[Greg McLean, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

We need to get business done. We have five more minutes. Do we need to adjourn?

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

We have to go in camera if we work on the Afghanistan letter, which will take about 15 minutes.

[Greg McLean, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

We've already agreed not to be in camera on it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

It's not necessarily on the Afghanistan letter. I have to bring it forward again, and there will be a discussion on that one.

Madam Kwan.

Because this motion is non-debatable—

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

It is a non-debatable motion. We have five more minutes, so let's vote on this. I have one other bit of business I'd like to advance, if I may, which will hopefully take only three minutes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

We will vote on the motion to adjourn.

(Motion negatived: nays 6; yeas 5)

Madam Kwan.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I'll quickly move this. Hopefully, it's not controversial.

I move:

Given that between November 1, 2022, and November 24, 2023, only 77 of 21,472 applications from permanent residents seeking to join the regular force of the Canadian Armed Forces were accepted, that the committee call on the government to immediately take action to expedite processing times for permanent residents in the recruiting process, including the security screening process, and that this motion be reported to the House.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Thank you.

Is there any debate on this motion brought forward by Madam Kwan?

All in favour....

I see Mr. Zuberi and Mr. Chiang.

[Sameer Zuberi, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

I'll go after Mr. Chiang, please.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

I'm sorry. I have a point of order. Are we actually in a vote? We've already called a vote, so we're not in debate.

We're just clarifying whether or not the Liberals are voting for or against. Is that right?

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Yes.

[Salma Zahid, Liberal, Scarborough Centre, ON]

I have a point of order.

You didn't call the vote, Chair. You were just asking.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

I asked if you were all in favour. If there's not unanimous consent, then I will call a vote, right?

[Salma Zahid, Liberal, Scarborough Centre, ON]

Yes, that's what I'm saying. The vote has not been called.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Yes.

Mr. Chiang.

[Paul Chiang, Liberal, Markham—Unionville, ON]

Could we suspend this motion for now, because we don't have enough time to—

[An hon. member]

We're in the middle of a vote.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

No, no. We're not in the middle of a vote. I asked if there was unanimous consent.

If not, they have every right to say it.

Mr. Chiang had the floor.

Mr. Chiang, we still have a few minutes. You can speak on this motion.

[Paul Chiang, Liberal, Markham—Unionville, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I would like to add an amendment: “and pursuant to Standing Order 109, that the government provide a comprehensive response”. That's it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Have you finished, Mr. Chiang?

[Paul Chiang, Liberal, Markham—Unionville, ON]

Yes, Mr. Chair.