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CIMM Committee Meeting

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Minutes of Proceedings

44th Parliament, 1st Session
Meeting 21
Thursday, May 5, 2022, 11:43 a.m. to 1:21 p.m.
Webcast
Presiding
Salma Zahid, Chair (Liberal)

• Hon. Kerry-Lynne D. Findlay for Jasraj Singh Hallan (Conservative)
• Blake Richards for Brad Redekopp (Conservative)
• Kyle Seeback for Bob Benzen (Conservative)
Library of Parliament
• Julie Béchard, Analyst
• Madalina Chesoi, Analyst
• Martin McCallum, Analyst
As an individual
• Ghulam Faizi, Former Afghan Interpreter
• Hameed Khan, Former Afghan Interpreter
• Luisa Veronis, Associate Professor and Research Chair in Immigration and Franco-Ontarian communities, University of Ottawa
CanadaVisa
• Kareem El-Assal, Director of Policy and Digital Strategy
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the committee on Tuesday, February 1, 2022, the committee commenced its study of application backlogs and processing times.

Hameed Khan, Luisa Veronis and Karrem El-Assal made statements and, with Ghulam Faizi, answered questions.

Motion

Kyle Seeback moved, — That the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration report the following to the House: significant delays in citizenship applications over two years risks disenfranchising Canadians who are waiting for their citizenship in order to vote. This issue is particularly urgent in light of the June 2 Ontario provincial election. The government should move quickly to address this issue so that all Canadians who are eligible for citizenship and who choose to apply are able to participate fully in our democratic life. In light of the situation, the committee requests a response from the minister, by letter, by May 20, outlining the actions taken, and further actions intended.

Amendment

Jenny Kwan moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “the committee requests” with the words “the committee request the Minister to appear before the committee to outline his actions and further actions intended to address this concern”.

Debate arose thereon.

At 12:53 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 1:09 p.m., the sitting resumed.

By unanimous consent, the amendment was withdrawn.

Amendment

Jenny Kwan moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “That the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration report the following to the House:” with the words “Given that” and by replacing the words “a response from the Minister by letter by May 20th, outlining” with the words “the Minister appear before the committee for two hours by May 27, 2022 to outline''.

The question was put on the amendment of Jenny Kwan and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 11; NAYS: 0.

The question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 11; NAYS: 0.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

Given that significant delays in citizenship applications (over two years) risk disenfranchising Canadians who are waiting for their citizenship in order to vote, and this issue is particularly urgent in light of the June 2nd Ontario provincial election, the government should move quickly to address this issue so that all Canadians who are eligible for citizenship and who choose to apply are able to participate fully in our democratic life. In light of the situation, the committee requests the Minister appear before the committee for two hours by May 27, 2022, to outline actions taken and further actions intended.

At 1:21 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.



Stephanie Bond
Clerk of the committee