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CIMM Committee Meeting

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Minutes of Proceedings

42nd Parliament, 1st Session
Meeting No. 84
Monday, November 20, 2017, 6:34 p.m. to 9:32 p.m.
Televised
Presiding
Robert Oliphant, Chair (Liberal)

Library of Parliament
• Julie Béchard, Analyst
• Madalina Chesoi, Acting Analyst
Jordan Battista LLP
• Michael Battista, Barrister and Solicitor
• Adrienne Smith, Barrister and Solicitor
Canadian Institute for Health Information
• Brent Diverty, Vice-President, Programs
• Christopher Kuchciak, Manager, Health Expenditures
Council of Canadians with Disabilities
• James Hicks, National Coordinator
• John Rae, First Vice-Chair
HIV & AIDS Legal Clinic Ontario
• Meagan Johnston, Staff Lawyer
Parkdale Community Legal Services
• Toni Schweitzer, Staff Lawyer
Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network
• Maurice Tomlinson, Senior Policy Analyst
As an individual
• Mercedes Benitez
• Lorne Waldman, Barrister and Solicitor, Lorne Waldman and Associates
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the Committee on Monday, October 16, 2017, the Committee resumed its study on federal government policies and guidelines regarding medical inadmissibility of immigrants.

Lorne Waldman, by videoconference from Toronto, Ontario, John Rae and Brent Diverty made statements and answered questions.

Michelle Rempel gave notice of the following motion:

That the Committee invite the Auditor General to appear in a televised meeting with respect to Report 3 of his Fall 2017 reports dealing with settlement services for Syrian refugees, and that officials from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada also be asked to appear at the same meeting, no later than December 7th, 2017.

Questioning of the witnesses resumed.

At 7:32 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 7:36 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Michael Battista, Adrienne Smith, Maurice Tomlinson, Meagan Johnston, Mercedes Benitez and Tony Schweitzer made statements and answered questions.

At 8:30 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 8:33 p.m., the sitting resumed.

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

By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That the 2004 baseline study conducted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada requested by Ms. Kwan during the meeting of October 24, 2017, be distributed first in English only; and that the French translation be distributed immediately following its availability.

The Committee resumed consideration of the motion of Michelle Rempel, — That, notwithstanding the motion adopted by the Committee on October 16, 2017, the Committee hold an additional meeting prior to December 20, 2017, on the resettlement issues related to Yazidi women and girls; and that the Committee report its finding to the House; and that the government table a response.

The debate continued.

Amendment

Salma Zahid moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “report its finding to the House; and that the government table a response” with the words “write a letter to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada reporting on the testimony it has heard during this briefing”.

Subamendment

Michelle Rempel moved, — That the amendment be amended by adding the words: “and that the content of the letter be developed in a televised meeting, and that the Minister appear before the Committee to respond to the letter prior to February 28, 2018” after the word ''briefing''.

At 9:02 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 9:26 p.m., the sitting resumed.

By unanimous consent, the subamendment was withdrawn.

By unanimous consent, the amendment was withdrawn.

The debate on the motion continued.

Motion

Salma Zahid moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “an additional meeting” with the words “two additional meetings”.

The question was put on the amendment of Salma Zahid and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 8; NAYS: 0.

The question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 8; NAYS: 0.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That, notwithstanding the motion adopted by the Committee on October 16, 2017, the Committee hold two additional meetings prior to December 20, 2017, on the resettlement issues related to Yazidi women and girls; and that the Committee report its finding to the House; and that the government table a response.

Jenny Kwan gave notice of the following motion:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee undertake a study of the increasing incidence of forced internal displacement globally and how Canada can best respond to the humanitarian crisis involving forced internal displacement; that this study should be comprised of no fewer than three meetings; that the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship be in attendance for at least one meeting; and that departmental officials from Global Affairs Canada and Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada be in attendance for at least one meeting; and that the study be concluded; and that the Committee report its finding to the House; and that pursuant to Standing Order 109, the government table a comprehensive response thereto.

At 9:32 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.



Erica Pereira
Clerk of the Committee