CIMM Committee Meeting

Meeting No. 1

Tuesday, October 26, 1999

The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration met at 9:11 a.m. this day, in Room 308, West Block, for the purpose of organization.

Members of the Committee present: Jean Augustine, Leon Benoit, Bernard Bigras, Paul Bonwick, John Bryden, Joe Fontana, Sophia Leung, Rick Limoges, Steve Mahoney, Pat Martin, John McKay, David Price, Jack Ramsay and Andrew Telegdi.

Acting Members present: Larry McCormick for Sophia Leung; Tony Valeri for John Bryden and Chuck Strahl for Rob Anders.

In attendance: From the Parliamentary Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Margaret Young, Research Officer.

The Clerk of the Committee presided over the election of the Chair.

On motion of Steve Mahoney, seconded by Paul Bonwick, it was agreed, - That Joe Fontana do take the Chair of this Committee.

Accordingly Joe Fontana took the Chair.

On motion of Chuck Strahl, it was agreed, - That Leon Benoit be elected Vice-Chair of the Committee.

On motion of Paul Bonwick, it was agreed, - That Steve Mahoney be elected Vice-Chair of the Committee.

On motion of Leon Benoit, it was agreed, - That the Committee meet on Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

It was agreed - That the Sub-Committee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of eight (8) Members; the Chair, two (2) Vice-Chairs, two (2) representatives from the Liberal Party and one from each of the following Parties: B.Q., N.D.P. and P.C.

Paul Bonwick moved, - That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings in order to hear evidence when a quorum is not present, provided that at least three (3) members, including both Government and opposition are present, with the provision that, in the case of the absence of either Government or opposition members, the Chair be authorized to call the meeting to order no sooner than 15 minutes after the time indicated on the notice as long as three (3) members of the Committee are present.

Steve Mahoney moved, - That the motion be amended by striking out the words "including both Government and opposition".

After debate, the question being put on the amendment, it was agreed to on the following division: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 3.

It was agreed, - That the motion be amended by deleting all the words after "members are present."

And the question being put on the motion, as amended, it was agreed to.

Leon Benoit moved, - That during the questioning of witnesses, there be allocated ten (10) minutes for the first questioner for the Reform, followed by ten (10) minutes for the Liberal, then five (5) minutes for the B.Q., then five (5) minutes for the Reform, then five (5) minutes for the NPD, then five (5) minutes for the Liberal, then five (5) minutes for the P.C. and if there is subsequent round, that the rotation be the same and all questioning will be for five (5) minutes.

 It was agreed, - That the motion be amended by deleting the period at the end of the paragraph and adding the following therefor:

"and that the witnesses be limited to ten (10) minutes for their presentation".

 After debate, the question being put on the motion, as amended, it was agreed to on the following recorded division:

YEAS:

Jean Augustine

Leon Benoit

Paul Bonwick

John Bryden

Sophia Leung

Rick Limoges

Steve Mahoney

John McKay

Jack Ramsay

Chuck Strahl

Andrew Telegdi: -- 11

NAYS:

Bernard Bigras

Pat Martin

David Price: -- 3

Steve Mahoney moved, - That a notice of 48 hours be required before any substantive motion may be presented to the Committee.

John Bryden moved, - That the motion be amended by deleting "48 hours" and substituting the following therefor :

"24 hours".

After debate, the question being put on the amendment, and the result of the vote having been announced: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 7.

Whereupon, the Chair voted in the affirmative.

And the question being put on the motion, it was agreed to.

On motion of John McKay, it was agreed, - That the Committee retain the services of one or more Research Officers from the Library of Parliament, as needed, to assist the Committee in its work at the discretion of the Chair.

On motion of Steve Mahoney, it was agreed, - That, as established by the Board of Internal Economy and if requested, reasonable travelling, accommodation, and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses who are invited to appear before the Committee up to a maximum of two (2) representatives for any organization.

On motion of Jean Augustine, it was agreed, - That, pursuant to Standing Order 111(4), whenever an Order in council for appointment or a certificate of nomination for appointment is referred to the Committee, the Clerk shall obtain and circulate to each member of the Committee a copy of the resume of each appointee.

On motion of David Price, it was agreed, - That the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to distribute documents received from the public only when they have been translated in both official languages.

 On motion of Rick Limoges, it was agreed, - That the Committee authorize the Chair, from time to time, as the need arises, to take, in conjunction with the Clerk of the Committee the appropriate measures to provide lunches for the Committee and its Sub-committees, for working purposes, and that the cost of these lunches be charged to the budget of the Committee.

It was agreed, - That one (1) transcript of all In Camera meetings be produced and kept in the Committee Clerk's office for consultation.

It was agreed, - That no In Camera meetings shall occur without a vote by the Committee at an open meeting.

It was agreed, - That the Sub-Committee on Agenda and Procedure meet on Wednesday, October 27, 1999 at 3:30 p.m.

At 10:22 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Santosh Sirpaul




Clerk of the Committee