CIMM Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration met at 11:15 a.m. this day, in Room 269 West Block, the Chair, Andrew Telegdi, presiding.

Maxwell Vo, Hoi Trinh, Cecil Rotengerg, Andy Kusi-Appiah and Tu-Anh Takacs made statements and answered questions.

At 12:25 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:35 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Adhi Guy, Hanid Jalali and Youssef Ibrais made statements.

Michael Bossin made a statement and answered questions.

Meile Faille gave notice of the following motion:

REGARDING THE REMAINING 2 000 STATELESS VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN THE PHILIPPINES

WHEREAS, the 2 000 Vietnamese refugees have remained stateless in the Philippines over the last 16 years without being given any status;

WHEREAS, this small number of Vietnamese refugees represents the last group of “boat people“ from Vietnam, stranded in limbo since 1989;

WHEREAS, Australia and the U.K. have provided resettlement for some 300 refugees on humanitarian compassionate grounds since the year 2000;

WHEREAS, Norway and the U.S.A. have recently allowed the majority of the remaining 2 000 Vietnamese refugees to resettle in their countries on similar humanitarian grounds;

WHEREAS, some 200 families (approximately 500 individuals) are expected to be left behind without a durable solution after 16 years of displacement and statelessness;

WHEREAS, many of these families have relatives such as parents, siblings, and other relations living in Canada;

WHEREAS, the Vietnamese Community in Canada have found willing and able Canadian sponsors for all of the 200 refugee families;

WHEREAS, Canada accepts some 30 000 refugees annually and already has in place programs that would allow the resettlement of these families;

WHEREAS, these families meet the criteria set under the ‘Country of Asylum’ class which requires that the applicant:

• Be outside his/her country of citizenship;

• Has been affected by civil war or armed conflict; or

• Has suffered violations of human rights;

• Has no possibility, within a reasonable period of time, of having a durable solution; and

• Be privately sponsored.

The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration requests the following:

1. The Honourable Minister of Citizenship and Immigration to allow the resettlement of these families in Canada under the ‘Country of Asylum’ class, on humanitarian compassionate grounds, during the 2005-2006 financial year.

2. During this process, these families be required to undergo normal procedures like all other refugees admitted into Canada.

3. The Honourable Minister of Citizenship and Immigration to respond, in writing, to members of this Committee, within a reasonable period of time, the overall result of Canada’s efforts in providing a durable solution to this last group of ‘boat people’ from Vietnam.

At 13:03, the sitting was suspended.

At 13:06, the sitting resumed in camera.

It was agreed, that the Chair be authorized to write to the Prime Minister urging the government to immediately table Citizenship legislation.

At 1:37 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.