CIMM Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration met at 3:31 p.m. this day, in Room 371, West Block, the Chair, Norman Doyle, presiding.

Jim Karygiannis moved, — That, pursuant to Standing Orders 110(1) and 111(1), and the House of Commons Order of Reference of February 14, 2008, the Committee call to appear the recently appointed members of the Immigration and Refugee Board, Berto Volpentesta and Dominique Setton-Lemar.

Debate arose thereon.

Ed Komarnicki moved, — That the motion be amended by adding the following: “and, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Director General, Operations, Immigration Refugee Board”.

Debate arose thereon.

On motion of Andrew Telegdi, it was agreed, — That the amendment be amended by adding the following: “and Ben Dolin”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Ed Komarnicki, as amended, and it was agreed to.

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

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That, pursuant to Standing Orders 110(1) and 111(1), and the House of Commons' order of reference of February 14, 2008, the Committee call to appear the recently appointed members of the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB), Berto Volpentesta and Dominique Setton-Lemar, and, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Director General, Operations, of the Immigration Refugee Board and Ben Dolin.

At 3:37 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 3:41 p.m., the sitting resumed.

The Committee resumed the adjourned debate of the motion of Olivia Chow, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee recommend the government immediately serve notice and then proceed to abrogate the Safe Third Country agreement with the United States of America.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That the motion be amended by adding the following: “and that pursuant to Standing Order 108(1), the Chair report it to the House”.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee recommend to the government immediately serve notice and then proceed to abrogate the Safe Third Country Agreement with the United States of America, and that, pursuant to Standing Order 108(1), the Chair report it to the House.

Debate arose on the motion as amended.

Colleen Beaumier moved, — That further consideration of the motion be deferred until the Committee has heard evidence on the operation of the agreement.

Debate arose thereon.

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

Jim Karygiannis moved, — That the Vote 1b under CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION of the Supplementary Estimates (B) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2008, be negatived.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 2; NAYS: 4.

Andrew Telegdi moved, — That the Committee express its grave concern to the House about the Minister's not appearing to defend the estimates, and that the Chair report this to the House.

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

At 4:29 p.m., the sitting resumed in camera.

It was agreed, — That, in order to hold hearings for its studies of Iraqi refugee issues, temporary foreign workers and undocumented workers, and immigration consultants, the Committee travel to Vancouver, Edmonton, Moose Jaw and Winnipeg from March 31 to April 3, to Kitchener-Waterloo, Toronto and Montreal from April 7 to 11, and to Quebec City, Fredericton, Halifax and St. John's, Newfoundland, from April 14 to 17, 2008, and that the necessary staff do accompany the Committee.

It was agreed, — That the three proposed budgets to support the Committee's travel as part of its studies of Iraqi refugee issues, temporary foreign workers and undocumented workers, and immigration consultants in the amount of $365,702 in total be adopted and that the Chair present the said budgets to the Budget Subcommittee of the Liaison Committee.

It was agreed, — That, while the Committee travels, it consider no substantive motions.

At 4:32 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.