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.
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Minutes of Proceedings
Laverne Jacobs, by videoconference from Windsor, Ontario, Michelle Flaherty and France Houle made statements and answered questions.
Michelle Rempel moved, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee immediately study the illegal arrivals occurring at Canada's southern border; that the study include an investigation of the impact of the costs that these land arrivals have and will incur; that this study also investigate how these border crossings are being managed by the government and government officials; that this study examine the options for amending the Canada-US Safe Third Country Agreement; that this study should be comprised of no less than three meetings; that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) department officials be in attendance for at least one of the meetings and that Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officials be in attendance for at least one of the meetings; that the Committee report its findings to the House; and that pursuant to Standing Order 109, the government table a comprehensive response thereto.
Larry Maguire moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “report its findings to the House” with the words “move immediately on this study and table its report to the House by the end of June”.
After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Larry Maguire and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 3; NAYS: 5.
Jenny Kwan moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the word “illegal” with the word “irregular”.
The question was put on the amendment of Jenny Kwan and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 1.
Jenny Kwan moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the words “at least one of the meetings” the following: “that this study examines the impact of increased asylum claims on the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, CBSA, IRCC, the Immigration and Refugee Board, Non-Governmental Organizations and on the provinces that provide settlement services in areas where these crossings are more frequent”.
Debate arose thereon.
The question was put on the amendment of Jenny Kwan and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 2; NAYS: 5.
Leona Alleslev moved, — That the Committee proceed to Committee business.
By unanimous consent, Jenny Kwan gave notice of the following motions:
That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee undertake a study examining lengthy permanent resident application processing times and its impact for the applicants and their families, including the situation of significant processing delays of permanent resident applications submitted by Iranian nationals; many of which are current and former international students; that this study should be comprised of no fewer than four meetings; that the Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, and IRCC department officials be in attendance for at least one of the meetings; that the Committee report its findings to the House; and that pursuant to Standing Order 109, the government table a comprehensive response thereto.
That pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee undertake a study of the Citizenship Act, as it pertains to the creation of “Lost Canadians”; that this study examine the impact that the “28 year rule” has had; the impact that limiting birthright citizenship to the first generation born abroad has had; and the impact of citizenship formerly not being permitted to be passed down to first generation born aboard if the Canadian parent was a woman; that this study should be comprised of no fewer than three meetings; that the Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship and IRCC department officials be in attendance for at least one of the meetings; that the Committee report it its findings to the House; and that pursuant to Standing Order 109, the government table a comprehensive response thereto.
The question was put on the motion of Leona Alleslev and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 2.
At 12:24 p.m., the sitting was suspended.
At 12:28 p.m., the sitting resumed in camera.
It was agreed, — That the Committee hold two meetings, next week, on its study of the Immigration and Refugee Board's appointment, training and complaint processes.
It was agreed, — That the Committee invite the Minister of Immigration and officials from the Canada Border Services Agency, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the Immigration and Refugee Board, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to appear before the Committee to discuss the impact of irregular border crossing at Canada’s southern border.
At 1:00 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.