CIMM Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration met at 3:29 p.m. this day, in Room 371, West Block, the Chair, Norman Doyle, presiding.

Les Linklater, François Guilbault, Steve Sloan, Mike Cabana and Denis Meunier made statements and, with Brenna MacNeil and Geoff Zerr, answered questions.

Wajid Khan moved, — That, as promptly as possible, the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration consider the subject matter of Part 6 of Bill C 50, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on February 26, 2008 and to enact provisions to preserve the fiscal plan set out in that budget, and convey its recommendations to the Standing Committee on Finance no later than Friday, May 9, 2008, further to the Standing Committee on Finance’s request unanimously passed on April 16, 2008 and transmitted to this Committee on April 17, 2008.

Jim Karygiannis moved, — That the motion be amended by adding the word “preliminary” between the words “convey its” and the word “recommendations”, and by replacing the words “transmitted to this committee on April 17, 2008” with the words “and, should further study be done, the committee undertake to do so”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Jim Karygiannis and it was negatived.

Bill Siksay moved, — That the motion be amended by adding in line 5 between the words “convey its” and the word “recommendations”, the following: “preliminary”; and by replacing, in line 6, the date “May 9”, the following: “May 16”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Bill Siksay and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Colleen Beaumier, Maurizio Bevilacqua, Robert Carrier, Jim Karygiannis, Bill Siksay, Andrew Telegdi, Robert Vincent — 7; NAYS: Nina Grewal, Wajid Khan, Ed Komarnicki, Deepak Obhrai — 4.

Olivia Chow moved, — That the motion be amended by adding at the end, “and that the Committee meet jointly at its first opportunity with the Standing Committee on Finance to consider the subject matter of Part 6 of Bill C-50, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on February 26, 2008 and to enact provisions to preserve the fiscal plan set out in that budget, and that the chairmanship of the joint proceedings alternate between the respective chairs of the two standing committees;

That the joint proceedings occur and hear witnesses across Canada, commencing at the scheduled meeting immediately following the adoption of this motion.

That the Committee table a copy of the evidence;

That pursuant to Standing Order 109, the Committee request that the government table a comprehensive response to the report;

and That these meetings be televised” .

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Olivia Chow and it was negatived on the following recorded division: YEAS: Olivia Chow — 1; NAYS: Colleen Beaumier, Maurizio Bevilacqua, Robert Carrier, Nina Grewal, Jim Karygiannis, Wajid Khan, Ed Komarnicki, Deepak Obhrai, Andrew Telegdi, Robert Vincent — 10.

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Colleen Beaumier, Maurizio Bevilacqua, Robert Carrier, Olivia Chow, Jim Karygiannis, Andrew Telegdi, Robert Vincent — 7; NAYS: Nina Grewal, Wajid Khan, Ed Komarnicki, Deepak Obhrai — 4.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That, as promptly as possible, the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration consider the subject matter of Part 6 of Bill C-50, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on February 26, 2008 and to enact provisions to preserve the fiscal plan set out in that budget, and convey its preliminary recommendations to the Standing Committee on Finance no later than Friday, May 16, 2008, further to the Standing Committee on Finance’s request unanimously passed on April 16, 2008 and transmitted to this committee on April 17, 2008.

At 5:36 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.