CITI 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
Meeting No. 53
Thursday, March 18, 1999
The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration met at 9:07 a.m. this day, in Room 209, West Block, the Chair, Rey Pagtakhan, presiding.
Members of the Committee present: Jean Augustine, Leon Benoit, Raymonde Folco, Sophia Leung, Steve Mahoney, John McKay, Grant McNally, Réal Ménard, Rey Pagtakhan and Andrew Telegdi.
Acting Members present: Larry McCormick for Mark Assad; Denis Coderre for Jean Augustine; Joe McGuire for Paul DeVillers; Paul Steckle for Sophia Leung; Murray Calder for John McKay; Gerry Ritz and Gerry Breitkreuz for Jack Ramsay.
Other Member present: Dick Proctor.
In attendance: From the Parliamentary Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Margaret Young, Research Officer.
The Committee proceeded to consider the Notice of Motion of Leon Benoit of March 11, 1999.
Leon Benoit moved , - That the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration be requested to re-appear before the Committee at the earliest opportunity, but not later than March 25th, 1999, to address the Performance Review of the Department for the fiscal year of 1998-1999.
Steve Mahoney moved, - That the motion be amended by deleting the words "at the earliest opportunity but no later than March 25th, 1999" and substituting the following therefor:
"after completion of Clause by Clause study on Bill C-63".
After debate, with unanimous consent, Steve Mahoney withdrew his amendment.
Raymonde Folco moved, - That the motion be amended by deleting the words "at the earliest opportunity" but no later than March 25th 1999" and substituting the following therefor:
"at one special Committee meeting called by the Chair for that purpose".
After debate, the question being put on the amendment, it was agreed to.
And the question being put on the motion, as amended, it was agreed to.
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(3), the Committee commenced consideration of a letter, dated Monday, March 9, 1999, which is as follows:
"Dear Ms. Sirpaul:
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(3), a meeting of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration shall be convened within ten sitting days for the purpose of examining concerns relating to the abuse of the refugee system as evidenced in the Greater Vancouver area by the growing number of refugee claimants charged with drug trafficking offences.
(Signed) Grant McNally, M.P., Leon Benoit, M.P., Jack Ramsay, M.P., Norman Doyle, M.P."
Grant McNally moved, - That pursuant to Standing Order 106(3), a meeting of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration shall be convened within ten sitting days for the purpose of examining concerns relating to the abuse of the refugee system as evidenced in the Greater Vancouver area by the growing number of refugee claimants charged with drug trafficking offences.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was negatived on the following recorded division:
YEAS:
Leon Benoit
Grant McNally
Gerry Ritz: -- 3
NAYS:
Denis Coderre
Raymonde Folco
Sophia Leung
Steve Mahoney
Andrew Telegdi
Réal Ménard: -- 6
The Committee proceeded to reconsider the SIXTH REPORT of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, which is as follows:
1.-- That the Committee hold public hearings on Bill C-63, An Act respecting Canadian citizenship, in Ottawa, and invite Canadians to appear under the normal process, to appear by Videoconferencing or to submit a brief.
2.-- That the schedule of meetings for next week be adopted.
Wednesday, March 24, 1999, at 3:30 p.m.:
- Adoption Council of Canada;
- "La Fédération des parents adoptants du Québec";
- The Monarchist League of Canada.
Thursday, March 25, 1999, at 9:00 a.m.
- B'Nai Brith Canada;
- Organization of Professional Immigration Consultants Inc.;
- Canadian Citizenship Federation.
3.-- That the Chair be authorized in consultation with the Researcher and Clerk of the Committee to Group different organizations and individuals so that a number of witnesses could be heard.
4.-- That in addition to the regular hours of sittings on Wednesdays from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., the Committee meet in the evenings on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with prior agreement, and on Fridays, only if absolutely essential and with prior agreement.
5.-- That the list of potential witnesses be adopted.
6.-- That the Committee advertise on CPAC informing Canadians that request to appear on Bill C-63, an Act respecting Canadian citizenship, should be made to the Clerk by March 31, 1999, or that they may submit a written submission by April 7, 1999.
Item 1
Steve Mahoney moved, - That Item 1 be amended by adding after the words "to submit a brief" the following:
"and the said hearings be concluded by April 23, 1999".
After debate, the question being put on the amendment, it was agreed to on the following recorded division:
YEAS:
Denis Coderre
Raymonde Folco
Sophia Leung
Steve Mahoney
John McKay
Andrew Telegdi: -- 6
NAYS:
Leon Benoit
Grant McNally
Réal Ménard
Gerry Ritz: -- 4
After debate, the question being put on Item 1, as amended, it was agreed to on the following recorded division:
YEAS:
Denis Coderre
Raymonde Folco
Sophia Leung
Steve Mahoney
Andrew Telegdi: -- 5
NAYS:
Grant McNally
Réal Ménard: -- 2
Item 2
The question being put on Item 2, it was agreed to.
The question being put on Item 3, it was agreed to.
On motion of Steve Mahoney it was agreed, - That Item 4 be amended by deleting all the words after "in addition to the regular hours of sittings" and substituting the following therefor:
the Committee meet on Wednesdays from 3:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and
on Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to noon and 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
On motion of Steve Mahoney it was agreed, - That Item 4 be further amended by adding thereto:
"Meetings could be held on Fridays and Mondays, if absolutely essential, at the call of the Chair".
The question being put on Item 4, as amended, it was agreed to.
The question being put on Item 5, it was agreed to.
Item 6
It was agreed, - That Item 6 be amended by adding after the words "should be made to the Clerk by" the following thereto: "Wednesday, March 31, 1999"
and further adding the following thereto after the words "they may submit a written submission by"
Wednesday, April 7, 1999.
The question being put on Item 6, as amended, it was agreed to.
On motion of Réal Ménard, the SIXTH REPORT of the Sub-committee on Agenda and Procedure was concurred in.
At 11:06 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
Santosh Sirpaul
Clerk of the Committee