CIMM Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration met in camera at 11:05 a.m. this day, in Room 308, West Block, the Chair, Norman Doyle, presiding.

The Committee resumed consideration of a draft report.

At 11:43 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 11:44 a.m., the sitting resumed in public.

The Committee resumed consideration of the motion of Omar Alghabra, — That the following report be adopted by the Committee, and that the Chair present the report to the house as soon as possible:

WHEREAS the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration has stated her intention to merge the current Advisory Panel and the Chairperson’s Selection Board of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB), and to be given discretionary power to appoint half of the six external members of the proposed committee structure, as per recommendation five contained the recent Public Appointments Commission Secretariat report;

AND WHEREAS these changes will politicize the merit-based, non-partisan, and independent nature of the current IRB appointment process;

AND WHEREAS the government’s failure to appoint a sufficient number of IRB adjudicators has created a growing backlog of refugee claimants, leaving many to live in limbo;

AND WHEREAS longer delays also have a significant impact on security, family reunification, and social costs associated with education, health, and social assistance;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration call upon the Minister to reject recommendation five contained in the recent Public Appointments Commission Secretariat report, and to immediately fill the remaining board vacancies within the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada in order to reduce the growing backlog of individuals awaiting case review hearings .

Andrew Telegdi moved, — That the report be amended by inserting the words “,having created a crisis by its” in the third paragraph between the word “government” and “failure”, and by adding the words “and to immediately fill remaining Board vacancies by reappointments from the pool of available and qualified applicants”, at the end of the motion.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Andrew Telegdi and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 4.

Bill Siksay moved, — That the report be amended by adding the words “And be it further resolved that the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration request that the Chair issue a press release on behalf of the Committee to outline the Committee's concern on this issue.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Bill Siksay and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 4.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 4.

The adopted motion read as follows:

That the following report be adopted by the Committee, and that the Chair present the report to the house as soon as possible:

WHEREAS the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration has stated her intention to merge the current Advisory Panel and the Chairperson’s Selection Board of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB), and to be given discretionary power to appoint half of the six external members of the proposed committee structure, as per recommendation five contained the recent Public Appointments Commission Secretariat report;

AND WHEREAS these changes will politicize the merit-based, non-partisan, and independent nature of the current IRB appointment process;

AND WHEREAS the government, having created a crisis by its failure to appoint a sufficient number of IRB adjudicators, has created a growing backlog of refugee claimants, leaving many to live in limbo;

AND WHEREAS longer delays also have a significant impact on security, family reunification, and social costs associated with education, health, and social assistance;

BE IT RESOLVED that the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration call upon the Minister to reject recommendation five contained in the recent Public Appointments Commission Secretariat report, and to immediately fill the remaining board vacancies within the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada in order to reduce the growing backlog of individuals awaiting case review hearings; and to immediately fill remaining Board vacancies by reappointments from the pool of available and qualified applicants.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration request that the Chair issue a press release on behalf of the Committee to outline the Committee’s concern on this issue.

It was agreed, — That the Committee append to its report a dissenting opinion from Ed Komarnicki provided that it is no longer than the total number of words in the report (243 words); it is in the same style and format as the report (Times New Roman, 10 point); and it is submitted electronically in both official languages to the Clerk of the Committee, no later than 48 hours after the Committee has adopted the report (May 12, 2007, 12:05 p.m.).

Bill Siksay moved, — That the following report be adopted by the Committee, and that the Chair present the report to the House at the first possible opportunity.

WHEREAS the Government of Canada refused to participate in the war in Iraq;

AND WHEREAS most Canadians strongly supported that decision and continue to be strongly opposed to the war in Iraq;

AND WHEREAS Canada has a proud history of welcoming people of conscience who refused to participate in military service or in illegal or immoral wars;

AND WHEREAS we recognize the legacy of those American war resisters, who rather than serve in the American armed forces in the Viet Nam War, came to Canada and made a significant and positive contribution to our country;

AND WHEREAS the Government of Canada made it possible for those who resisted service in the American armed forces during the Viet Nam War period to find a haven from militarism in Canada;

AND WHEREAS American Iraq war resisters who have not received recognition as conscientious objectors in the United States and would face serious sanctions in the United States for having taken a stand against the war in Iraq should they be returned there;

THEREFORE, The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration recommends the following:

1. That the government should immediately implement an in-Canada program to allow conscientious objectors and their immediate family members, in particular those from the United States of America, who have refused or left military service related to the war in Iraq, to apply to remain and work in Canada and, after a period of two years, be eligible for permanent resident status.

2. That the government should immediately cease any removal or deportation actions that may have already commenced against such individuals.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 2; NAYS: 8.

At 12:21 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.