CIMM Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration met at 11:03 a.m. this day, in Room 253-D, Centre Block, for the purpose of electing a Chair, pursuant to Standing Order 106(1).

On motion of Costas Menegakis, it was agreed, — That David Tilson be elected Chair of the Committee.

On motion of Andrew Cash, it was agreed, — That Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe be elected First Vice-Chair of the Committee.

On motion of Costas Menegakis, it was agreed, — That John McCallum be elected Second Vice-Chair of the Committee.

At 11:06 a.m., David Tilson took the Chair.

It was agreed, — That the Committee do not meet on Thursday, October 31, 2013.

It was agreed, — That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure meet on Tuesday, November 5, 2013.

It was agreed, — That the Committee invite the Department of Citizenship and Immigration on Thursday, November 7, 2013, to provide an overview of the Department’s role and responsibilities.

Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe moved, — That the Chair may receive a motion to move in camera only for the purpose of discussing:

a) wages, salaries and other employee benefits;

b) contracts and contract negotiations;

c) labour relations and personnel matters;

d) a draft agenda or draft report; and

e) documents or matters requiring confidentiality, such as national security.

And that furthermore, that all votes taken in camera be recorded in the minutes, including which member voted which way when recorded votes are requested.

Debate arose thereon.

It was agreed, — That the debate be now adjourned.

Costas Menegakis moved, — That the Committee proceed to sit in camera.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Patrick Brown, Guy Lauzon, Chungsen Leung, Costas Menegakis, Mike Wallace, John Weston — 6; NAYS: Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe, Tarik Brahmi, Andrew Cash, John McCallum, Rathika Sitsabaiesan — 5.

At 11:18 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 11:19 a.m., the sitting resumed in camera.

It was agreed, — That the Committee retain, as needed and at the discretion of the Chair, the services of one or more analysts from the Library of Parliament to assist it in its work.

It was agreed, — That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be established and be composed of five (5) members including the Chair, one member of the official opposition and one member of the other opposition party, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and the Parliamentary Secretary for Multiculturalism; and

That the quorum of the Subcommittee consist of three (3) members and each member of the Subcommittee be permitted to have one assistant attend any meeting of the Subcommittee. In addition, each party be permitted to have one staff member from a House officer attend any meeting.

It was agreed, — That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence and to have that evidence published when a quorum is not present, provided that at least three (3) members are present, including one member of the opposition and one member of the government.

It was agreed, — That the witnesses from any one organization shall be allowed ten (10) minutes to make their opening statement; when there are three (3) or more witnesses each organisation shall be allowed eight (8) minutes to make their opening statement. During the questioning of witnesses, there shall be allocated seven (7) minutes for the first round of questioning unless otherwise specified and thereafter five (5) minutes shall be allocated to each questioner in the second and subsequent rounds of questioning.

It was agreed, — That the order of questions for the first round of questioning be as follows: Conservative, seven (7) minutes, New Democratic Party, seven (7) minutes, Liberal, five (5) minutes, Conservative, seven (7) minutes;

That the order of questions for the second round of questioning be as follows: New Democratic Party, Conservative;

That the order of questions for the third round of questioning be as follows: Conservative, New Democratic Party, Conservative;

That the order of questions for the fourth round of questioning be as follows: Conservative, New Democratic Party; and

That for subsequent rounds the Committee repeat the pattern of the first four rounds.

It was agreed, — That only the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to distribute to the members of the Committee any documents, including motions, and that all documents which have to be distributed amongst Committee members must be in both official languages. The Clerk shall advise all witnesses appearing before the Committee of this requirement.

It was agreed, — That the Committee hereby authorize the Clerk of the Committee, in consultation with the Chair, to make the necessary arrangements to provide for working meals as may be required and that the cost of those meals be charged to the Committee budget.

It was agreed, — That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses, not exceeding two (2) representatives per organization; and that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be made at the discretion of the Chair.

It was agreed, — That, unless otherwise ordered, each Committee member be allowed to be accompanied by one staff person at an in camera meeting and in addition to that, one person from either the Whip's office, the House Leader's office, or the research bureau of each party.

It was agreed, — That one copy of the transcript of each in camera meeting be kept in the office of the Clerk of the Committee for consultation by members of the Committee or the member's staff person present at the meeting.

It was agreed, — That 48 hours’ notice be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the Committee, unless the substantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration; and that the notice of motion be filed with the Clerk of the Committee and distributed to members in both official languages. Completed translated motions that are received by 4 p.m. shall be distributed to members the same day.

It was agreed, — That every party shall have the right to attach as an annex a dissenting opinion on any report to be presented to the House of Commons by the Committee, and that this dissenting opinion shall be submitted to the Clerk of the Committee within 48 hours of passing of the report by the Committee, in both official languages.

At 11:58 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.