On motion of Geoff Regan, it was agreed, — That Salma Zahid be elected Chair of the Committee.

At 8:57 a.m., Salma Zahid took the Chair.

It was agreed, — That the election of the Vice-Chairs be postponed.

Peter Kent moved, — That the committee call upon the Minister to come before committee to speak about his mandate letter, provide a ministerial overview and discuss his legislative plans.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Kenny Chiu, Anju Dhillon, Jasraj Singh Hallan, Peter Kent, Jenny Kwan, Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Christine Normandin, Geoff Regan, Kyle Seeback, Marc Serré, Marwan Tabbara — 11;

NAYS: — 0.

On motion of Marwan Tabbara, it was agreed, — That the committee retain, as needed and at the discretion of the Chair, the services of one or more analysts from the Library of Parliament to assist it in its work.

On motion of Marwan Tabbara, it was agreed, — That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be established and be composed of five (5) members, namely the Chair and one member from each recognized party; and that the subcommittee work in a spirit of collaboration.

Marwan Tabbara moved, — That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive and publish evidence when a quorum is not present, provided that at least four members are present, including a one member of the opposition and one member of the government but when travelling outside the parliamentary precinct that the meeting begin after 15 minutes regardless of members present.

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

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive and publish evidence when a quorum is not present, provided that at least four members are present, including two members of the opposition and two members of the government but, when travelling outside the parliamentary precinct, that the meeting begin after 15 minutes, regardless of members present.

On motion of Marwan Tabbara, it was agreed, — That witnesses be given 10 minutes for their opening statement; that, at the discretion of the chair during the questioning of the witnesses, there be allocated six minutes for the first questioner of each party as follows:

First round: Conservative Party; Liberal Party, Bloc Québécois, New Democratic Party.

For the second and subsequent rounds, the order and time for questioning be as follows: Conservative Party, five minutes, Liberal Party, five minutes, Conservative Party, five minutes, Liberal five minutes, Bloc Québécois, two and a half minutes and New Democratic Party, two and a half minutes.

On motion of Marwan Tabbara, it was agreed, — That the clerk of the committee be authorized to distribute documents to members of the committee only when the documents are available in both official languages and that witnesses be advised accordingly.

Marwan Tabbara moved, — That the clerk of the committee be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the committee and its subcommittees.

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

On motion of Marwan Tabbara, it was agreed, — That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses not exceeding two representatives per organization; provided that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be made at the discretion of the chair.

On motion of Marwan Tabbara, it was agreed, — That, unless otherwise ordered, each committee member be allowed to have one staff member at an in camera meeting and that one additional person from each House officer's office be allowed to be present.

On motion of Marwan Tabbara, it was agreed, — That one copy of the transcript of each in camera meeting be kept in the committee clerk’s office for consultation by members of the committee or by their staff.

Jenny Kwan moved, — That any motion to go in camera should be debatable and amendable; and that the committee may only meet in camera for the following purposes:

(a) to discuss administrative matters of the committee;

(b) a draft report; and

(c) briefings concerning national security.

Furthermore, minutes of in camera meetings should reflect on the result of all votes taken by the committee while in camera, including how each member voted when a recorded vote is requested.

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

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That any motion to go in camera should be debatable and amendable; and that the committee may only meet in camera for the following purposes:

(a) to discuss administrative matters of the committee;

(b) a draft report;

(c) briefings concerning national security; and

(d) to discuss matters involving an individual's private information.

Furthermore, minutes of in camera meetings should reflect on the result of all votes taken by the committee while in camera, including how each member voted when a recorded vote is requested.

On motion of Marwan Tabbara, it was agreed, — That a 48 hours’ notice, interpreted as two nights, shall be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the committee, unless the substantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration, provided that:

(1) the notice be filed with the clerk of the committee no later than 4:00 p.m. (EST) from Monday to Friday;

(2) the motion be distributed to Members in both official languages by the clerk on the same day the said notice was transmitted if it was received no later than the deadline hour; and

(3) notices received after the deadline hour or on non-business days be deemed to have been received during the next business day and that when the committee is travelling on official business, no substantive motions may be moved.

Peter Kent moved, — That the committee begin a study on the impacts of the unfair delays in processing times for irregular border crossers on the ministry's resources, the applicants that are applying through traditional methods and the irregular crossers themselves.

The question was put on the motion and it was negatived on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Kenny Chiu, Jasraj Singh Hallan, Peter Kent, Jenny Kwan, Kyle Seeback — 5;

NAYS: Anju Dhillon, Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Christine Normandin, Geoff Regan, Marc Serré, Marwan Tabbara — 6.

Peter Kent moved, — That the committee begin a study to review the failed lottery system for the family reunification program.

Debate arose thereon.

On motion of Marc G. Serré, it was agreed, — That the debate be now adjourned.

On motion of Marwan Tabbara, it was agreed, — That, in relation to orders of reference from the House respecting Bills,

a) the clerk of the committee shall, upon the committee receiving such an order of reference, write to each Member who is not a member of a caucus represented on the committee to invite those members to file with the clerk of the committee, in both official languages, any amendments to the bill which is the subject of the said order which they would suggest that the committee consider;

b) suggested amendments filed, pursuant to paragraph (a), at least 48 hours prior of the start of clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill to which the amendments relate shall be deemed to be proposed during the said consideration, provided that the committee may, by motion, vary this deadline in respect of a given Bill; and

c) during the clause-by-clause consideration of a Bill, the chair shall allow a Member who filed suggested amendments, pursuant to paragraph (a), an opportunity to make brief representations in support of them.

Peter Kent moved, — That the committee begin a comparative study to review any differential in acceptance rates of visitor visas and spousal sponsorships by country of origin of the application.

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

On motion of Marc G. Serré, it was agreed, — That the committee do now adjourn.