CIMM Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration met at 9:03 a.m. this day, in Room 308, West Block, the Chair, Norman Doyle, presiding.

Raymond Guénette made a statement, and with Wayne Garnons-Williams, answered questions.

At 9:56 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 10:10 a.m., the sitting resumed.

John Frecker made a statement and answered questions.

At 10:56 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 10:57 a.m., the sitting resumed.

Jim Karygiannis moved, — That the Committee invite the following Citizenship judges to appear as witnesses, pursuant to Standing Orders 110 and 111:

- George Springate

- Renata Brum Bozzi

- Mina Fung

- Raminder Gill

and that the Committee invite from the Immigration and Refugee Board:

- Michel Jobin

- Anna Maria Silvestri Corriveau.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

Bill Siksay moved, — Whereas the marriage of gay and lesbian couples is legal in Canada;

And whereas gay and lesbian couples can also be married legally in The Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, South Africa, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States of America;

And whereas it is the current policy of the Department of Citizenship and Immigration to not recognize marriages of gay and lesbian couples solemnized outside Canada for the purposes of an immigration application and instead requires those legally married couples to apply as common-law or conjugal partners;

And whereas, the House of Commons recently refused to call on the Government to reconsider the Civil Marriage Act passed by the 38th Parliament;

Therefore, be it resolved that the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration calls on the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration to immediately rescind the CIC Interim Policy and recognize legal marriages of gay and lesbian couples performed in jurisdictions outside Canada for purposes of immigration in exactly the same way as the legal marriages of heterosexual couples are recognized.

And be it further resolved that the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration be asked to respond, in writing, to members of this Committee, within a reasonable period of time, outlining the Department’s actions in light of the passage of this motion.

And be it further resolved that the Chair of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration report this motion to House of Commons.

Debate arose thereon.

Ed Komarnicki moved, — That the motion be amended in the fifth paragraph by adding after the word “recognized“, the following:

“provided they are also recognized as legal marriages in Canada“.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Ed Komarnicki and it was negatived.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

At 11:30 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.