CIMM Committee Meeting

Notices of Meeting include information about the subject matter to be examined by the committee and date, time and place of the meeting, as well as a list of any witnesses scheduled to appear. The Evidence is the edited and revised transcript of what is said before a committee. The Minutes of Proceedings are the official record of the business conducted by the committee at a sitting.

For an advanced search, use Publication Search tool.

If you have any questions or comments regarding the accessibility of this publication, please contact us at accessible@parl.gc.ca.

Previous day publication Next day publication

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 31

Thursday, February 1, 2007

The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration met at 11:05 a.m. this day, in Room 371, West Block, the Chair, Norman Doyle, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Omar Alghabra, Norman Doyle, Meili Faille, Raymond Gravel, Nina Grewal, Rahim Jaffer, Hon. Jim Karygiannis, Ed Komarnicki, Bill Siksay, Hon. Andrew Telegdi and Blair Wilson.

Acting Members present: David Sweet for Barry Devolin.

In attendance: House of Commons: Samy Agha, Committee Clerk . Library of Parliament: Andrew Kitching, Analyst . Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration: Trupati Patel, Analyst.

Witnesses: Mennonite Central Committee Canada: Ed Wiebe, Coordinator, National Refugee Program. The United Church of Canada: Sarah Angus, Member, Justice, Peace and Advisory Committee; Heather Macdonald, Program Coordinator, Refugee and Migration, Justice and Global Ecumenical Relations. Elected Sponsorship Agreement Holders: Martin Mark III, Coordinator, Refugee Sponsorship, Catholic Crosscultural Services, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto; Carolyn Vanderlip, Coordinator, Refugee Sponsorship, Anglican Diocese of Niagara.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the Committee on Wednesday, June 21, 2006, the Committee resumed its study of Refugee Issues - Private Sponsorship.

The witnesses made statements and answered questions.

The Committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to Committee business.

The Chair presented the Fifth Report from the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure which read as follows:

That the Committee undertake a study entitled “Loss of Canadian Citizenship 1947, 1977 and 2007“

That the Hearings be televised if possible and that the Committee sit on the following dates:

Monday, February 12, 2007 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Minister and Senior Officials from the Department of Citizenship and Immigration

Monday, February 19, 2007 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Interested groups and/or individuals

Monday, February 26, 2007 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Interested groups and/or individuals

That Members provide the Clerk names and contact numbers of interested groups and invividuals no later than 12:00 noon, Tuesday, February 6, 2007

Debate arose thereon.

Jim Karygiannis moved that the report be amended by adding at the beginning of the Report the words:

“Whereas countless Canadians have lost their Canadian citizenship under Section 8 of the Citizenship Act.

And Whereas the Committee asks the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration to adivse the Committee what measures are beint taken to ensure that these Canadians regain their citizenship“.

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

Ed Komarnicki moved that the Report be amended by replacing the words:

“that the Committee sit on the following dates:

Monday, February 12, 2007 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Minister and Senior Officials from the Department of Citizenship and Immigration

Monday, February 19, 2007 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Interested groups and/or individuals

Monday, February 26, 2007 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m

Interested groups and/or individuals

with “ “that the meetings suggested by the Steering Committee be two in number, unless the Committee decides otherwise, and that the meetings take place on a Tuesday or Thursday immediately following the February 6th meeting“.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Ed Komarnicki and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 6.

The question was put on the main motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.

At 1:00 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

William Farrell
Clerk of the Committee

2007/02/02 3:27 p.m.