CIMM Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration met at 3:32 p.m. this day, in Room 209, West Block, the Chair, Norman Doyle, presiding.

It was agreed, — That the Committee proceed to sit in public.

Mark Davidson made a statement and answered questions.

At 3:47 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 3:48 p.m., the sitting resumed.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That the committee reverted to stood motion of Lui Temelkoski.

That whenever an Order in Council appointment is referred to the Committee, the Clerk obtain and circulate to each member of the Committee a copy of the said appointment with the appointee’s curriculum vitae.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed to.

Bill Siksay moved, — 1) That the government of Canada develop skills and competence-related criteria for all government appointments, including Board Members and senior Officers of Crown Corporations and other government agencies, for which the Standing Committee has reviewing responsibility; and that these criteria specifically address the non-partisan nature of these appointments.

2) That the government then submit these criteria to the Standing Committee for consideration, and approval with amendment if necessary.

3) That the Government of Canada then publicly release, including publishing in the Canada Gazette, the committee-approved criteria for each appointment.

4) That the names and background of each nominee for appointment be referred to the Standing Committee prior to the date of their appointment, with an explanation of how each nominee has met the established criteria; and, that the Committee, unless it unanimously decides otherwise, shall have at least one full meeting every two months (while the House of Commons is in session) to review the nominees .

Debate arose thereon.

Ed Komarnicki moved, — That the motion be amended in paragraph 2 by striking out all the words after the word “consideration“.

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.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That the motion as adopted, be a report of the Committee and that the Chair present the report to the House.

Blair Wilson moved, — That witnesses from an organization be given ten (10) minutes to make their opening statement; and that, at the discretion of the Chair, during the questioning of witnesses, there be allocated seven (7) minutes for the first questioner of each party and that thereafter five (5) minutes be allocated to each subsequent questioner of each party until all Members have had a chance to participate, after which, if time permits a new round will commence.

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

By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That the Committee adopt the following workplan:

May 29 (3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.) - Overview of the Immigration Refugee Board

May 29 (4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.)- Overview of UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)

May 31 (3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.) - SOS Viet-Phi (Stateless Vietnamese in the Philippines)

May 31 (4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.)- Falun Dafa Association (Refugee Protection of Falun Gong Practitioners)

June 5 (3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.) - Canadian Bar Association (C-14 Adoption Bill)

June 7 (3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.) - CIC Minister (Main Estimates)

June 12 (3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.) - Briefing by Department (C-14 Adoption Bill)

June 19 (3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.) - Auditor General (Updates of May 2003 Status Report Chapter 3, April 2000 Report Chapter 3; and April 2003 Report, Chapter 5).

At 4:12 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:18, the sitting resumed in camera.

At 4:40 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.