MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1997
(Meeting No. 36)
(Meeting No. 36)
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The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration met at 4:35 o'clock p.m. this day, in Room 112-N, Centre Block, for the purpose of electing a Chair.
Members of the Committee present: Mauril Bélanger, Maud Debien, Stan Dromisky, Val Meredith, Maria Minna and Osvaldo Nunez.
Acting Members present: Carolyn Parrish for Colleen Beaumier; Bill Graham for Judy Bethel; John Godfrey for Tom Wappel.
In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Margaret Young, Research Officer.
Witness: From the Convention Refugee Determination Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board: Reid Rossi.
The Clerk of the Committee presided over the election of the Chair.
On motion of Maria Minna, it was agreed,--That Stan Dromisky do take the Chair of the Committee.
Stan Dromisky took the Chair.
On motion of Osvaldo Nunez, it was agreed,--That Judy Bethel be the Vice-Chair (Government), she was elected in absentia.
Pursuant to Standing Orders 110 and 111, the Committee proceeded to a study of an Order in Council appointment.
Reid Rossi answered questions.
RULING OF THE CHAIR
The Chair ruled questions concerning the political affiliation of the appointee out of order.
Reid Rossi resumed answering questions.
At 5:00 o'clock p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
Susan Baldwin
Clerk of the Committee
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 1997
(Meeting No. 37)
The Evidence for this meeting is not available because it was held in camera.
(Meeting No. 37)
The Evidence for this meeting is not available because it was held in camera.
The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration met in camera at 4:35 o'clock p.m. this day, in Room 705, La Promenade, the Chairman, Stan Dromisky, presiding.
Members of the Committee present: Mauril Bélanger, Judy Bethel, Stan Dromisky, Val Meredith, Maria Minna and Tom Wappel.
Acting Member present: Benoît Tremblay for Osvaldo Nunez.
In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Margaret Young, Research Officer.
The Committee proceeded to discuss future business.
Val Meredith moved,--That the Sixth Report of the Sub-Committee on Agenda and Procedure, which reads as follows, be adopted:
Your Sub-Committee met on Wednesday, March 5th, 1997, and agreed to make the following recommendations:
1. That the Committee invite Janko Peric, M.P., and the Canadian Police Association to appear before the Committee on Thursday, March 20, 1997, to discuss Bill C-237, An Act to amend the Immigration Act and the Transfer of Offenders Act from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
2. That the Committee invite the Minister and officials from the Department of Citizenship and Immigration to appear on March 18, 1997, in relation to Main Estimates.
3. That the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration invite department officials from Citizenship and Immigration, as well as Industry Canada and Human Resources Development Canada, industry spokespeople and other interested groups to discuss Citizenship and Immigration Canada's Foreign Workers Policy and examine suggestions to help alleviate, in the short term, the scarcity of human resources in the high-tech field;
--That the hearings be held on March 11, 13, April 8 and 10, 1997;
--That a proposed witness list be sent to the Clerk of the Committee by Friday, March 7, 1997 for discussion at the meeting of Tuesday, March 11, 1997;
--That the officials of the three Departments be invited to appear on March 11, 1997.
4. That the Committee invite Marcelle Brisson and Madeleine Dupont-Lévesque to appear on April 9, 1997, in relation to their Order-in-Council appointment.
At 4:45 o'clock p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
Monique Hamilton
Committee Clerk
TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 1997
(Meeting No. 38)
(Meeting No. 38)
The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration met at 3:34 o'clock p.m. this day, in Room 308, West Block, the Chairman, Stan Dromisky, presiding.
Members of the Committee present: Colleen Beaumier, Mauril Bélanger, Stan Dromisky, Dan McTeague, Maria Minna and Osvaldo Nunez.
Acting Members present: Brian Chatters for Val Meredith and Roy Cullen for Tom Wappel.
In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Margaret Young, Research Officer.
Witnesses: From the Department of Citizenship and Immigration: Ralph Girard, Assistant Deputy Minister, Operations; Dougall Aucoin, Director, Economic Policy and Programs, Selection Branch. From the Department of Human Resources Development: Sheila Morrison, Policy Consultant, Foreign Worker Policy and Programs, Sectoral Partnerships Delivery Division; Ken Donnelly, Manager, Primary Sectors and Programs, Sectoral Partnerships Delivery, Human Resources Partnerships; Suzanne Keating, Senior Industrial Consultant, Service Sectors, Sectoral Partnerships Delivery, Human Resources Partnerships.
In accordance with its mandate under Standing Order 108(2), and its Order of Tuesday, March 11, 1997, the Committee commenced a study of Citizenship and Immigration Canada's foreign workers policy.
The witnesses from the Department of Citizenship and Immigration made a statement and answered questions.
The witnesses from the Department of Human Resources Development made an opening statement and answered questions.
By unanimous consent, the following order was discharged,--That the Committee invite Marcelle Brisson and Madeleine Dupont-Lévesque to appear on April 9, 1997 in relation to their Order-in-Council appointment.
By unanimous consent, it was agreed,--That the Committee invite Madeleine Dupont-Lévesque to appear on April 9, 1997 in relation to her Order-in-Council appointment.
Osvaldo Nunez moved,--That the Canadian Council for Refugees be invited to also appear before the Committee on March 20, 1997 in relation to the Committee's study of Bill C-237.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was, by a show of hands, negatived: YEAS: 2; NAYS: 4.
It was agreed,--That the Department of Industry's appearance be rescheduled for April, 1997.
After debate, it was agreed,--That the following list of witnesses be invited to appear before the Committee in relation with the study of Citizenship and Immigration Canada's foreign workers policy:
An association from Biomedical Industry;
Beament Green Dust Lawyers;
Canadian Advanced Technology Association;
Canadian Information Processing Society;
Corel Corp.;
Department of Citizenship and Immigration;
Department of Industry;
Department of Human Resources Development;
IBM;
Information Technology Association of Canada;
Langlois, Hugh--Lawyer;
Lipton Systems;
National Research Council;
Newbridge;
Nortel;
Ottawa-Carleton Research Institute;
Pratt & Whitney Canada Intl.;
Software Human Resources Council;
Ward and Associates.
At 5:22 o'clock p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
Monique Hamilton
Committee Clerk
THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 1997
(Meeting No. 39)
(Meeting No. 39)
The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration met at 3:35 o'clock p.m. this day, in Room 308, West Block, the Chairman, Stan Dromisky, presiding.
Members of the Committee present: Mauril Bélanger, Judy Bethel, Stan Dromisky, Maria Minna, Osvaldo Nunez and Tom Wappel.
Acting Member present: Jay Hill for Val Meredith.
In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Margaret Young, Research Officer.
Witnesses: From the Software Human Resources Council: Paul Swinwood, President. From the Ottawa-Carleton Research Institute: Peter Fillmore. From the National Research Council: Arvind Chhatbar, Executive Secretary, Regional Innovation Forum & Coordinator, Regional Innovation Office.
In accordance with its mandate under Standing Order 108(2), the Committee resumed consideration of a study of Citizenship and Immigration Canada's foreign workers policy and examined suggestions to help alleviate, in the short term, the human resources in the high-tech field (See Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence, dated Tuesday, March 11, 1997, Issue No. 6).
Paul Swinwood, from the Software Human Resources Council, made a statement and answered questions.
Peter Fillmore, from the Ottawa-Carleton Research Institute, made a statement and answered questions.
Arvind Chhatbar, from the National Research Council, made a statement and answered questions.
At 5:29 o'clock p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
Danielle Belisle
Committee Clerk
TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 1997
(Meeting No. 40)
(Meeting No. 40)
The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration met at 4:04 o'clock p.m. this day, in Room 209, West Block, the Chairman, Stan Dromisky, presiding.
Members of the Committee present: Colleen Beaumier, Mauril Bélanger, Judy Bethel, Stan Dromisky, Dan McTeague, Val Meredith, Maria Minna, Osvaldo Nunez and Tom Wappel.
In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Margaret Young, Research Officer.
Appearing: The Honourable Lucienne Robillard, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.
Witnesses: From the Department of Citizenship and Immigration: Janice Cochrane, Deputy Minister; Georges Tsaï, Assistant Deputy Minister, Partnerships; Jerry Robbins, Director General, Finance and Administration.
The Order of Reference of the House dated Thursday, February 20, 1997, relating to the Main Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1998, being read as follows:
--That Votes 1, 5 and 10 under CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION be referred to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration.
The Chairman called Vote 1.
The Minister made a statement and, with the witnesses, answered questions.
Votes 1, 5 and 10 were allowed to stand.
It was agreed,--That in relation to the Committee's study on Citizenship and Immigration Canada's foreign workers policy, Howard Greenberg be invited to appear as participant of the second roundtable on April 10, 1997.
It was agreed,--That the meeting of Wednesday, April 8, 1997, consist of the appearance of Madeleine Dupont-Lévesque from 3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. followed by the appearance of the officials from the Department of Industry from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
At 5:37 o'clock p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
Monique Hamilton
Committee Clerk
THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 1997
(Meeting No. 41)
(Meeting No. 41)
The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration met at 3:35 o'clock p.m. this day, in Room 536, Wellington Bldg., the Vice-Chair, Judy Bethel, presiding.
Members of the Committee present: Judy Bethel, Dan McTeague, Maria Minna and Osvaldo Nunez.
Acting Members present: John Finlay for Stan Dromisky; Janko Peric for Colleen Beaumier; Sue Barnes for Mauril Bélanger; Derek Lee for Tom Wappel; Ray Speaker for Hugh Hanrahan; and Philip Mayfield for Val Meredith.
In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Margaret Young, Research Officer.
Witnesses: From the Canadian Police Association: Neal Jessop, President; Scott Newark, Executive Officer; Paul Walter, President, Metropolitan Toronto Police Association and Frank Marrocco, Q.C.
Pursuant to an Order of Reference of the House dated Friday, March 15, 1996, the Committee resumed consideration of Bill C-237, An Act to amend the Immigration Act and the Transfer of Offenders Act (See Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence dated Tuesday, June 4, 1996, Issue No. 4).
The witnesses made a statement and answered questions.
Dan McTeague moved,--That after seeing the officials of Citizenship and Immigration on Tuesday, April 15, 1997, the Committee proceed immediately to the clause by clause study of Bill C-237.
Debate arose thereon.
Maria Minna moved the following amendment,--The the motion be amended by adding after the word ``Committee'':
``invite the officials of the Department of Justice, the officials of the Department of the Solicitor General and the Canadian Council for Refugees to also appear in relation to Bill C-237 and then''.
Debate arose thereon.
Chairman's Ruling:
Dan McTeague's motion may not be moved at the present time because the Committee has not received, pursuant to their rules, 48 hours notice. Since the Committee has refused consent to waive the 48 hours notice, the motion and therefor the amendment may not be moved.
At 5:04 o'clock p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
Monique Hamilton
Committee Clerk
TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 1997
(Meeting No. 42)
(Meeting No. 42)
The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration met at 4:10 o'clock p.m. this day, in Room 371, West Block, the Acting Chair, Mauril Bélanger, presiding.
Members of the Committee present: Mauril Bélanger, Judy Bethel, Dan McTeague, Val Meredith, Maria Minna, Osvaldo Nunez, Tom Wappel.
Acting Members present: Dianne Brushett for Colleen Beaumier; Pierre de Savoye for Maud Debien, and Gary Pillitteri for Stan Dromisky.
In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Margaret Young, Research Officer.
Witnesses: (Roundtable format) From the Canadian Advanced Technology Association: Shirley-Ann George, Executive Director. From the Canadian Information Processing Society: George Boynton, President. From the West Island Business Development Council: Georges Nydam, Industrial Commissioner.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee resumed its study of Citizenship and Immigration Canada's foreign workers policy (See Minutes of Proceedings dated Tuesday, March 11, 1997, Issue No. 6, Meeting No. 38).
Shirley-Ann George from the Canadian Advanced Technology Association made a statement and answered questions.
George Boynton from the Canadian Information Processing Society made a statement and answered questions.
Georges Nydam from the West Island Business Development Council made a statement and answered questions.
At 5:40 o'clock p.m., the Committee adjourned until 3:30 o'clock p.m., Wednesday, April 9, 1997.
Santosh Sirpaul
Clerk of the Committee
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 1997
(Meeting No. 43)
(Meeting No. 43)
The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration met at 4:20 o'clock p.m. this day, in Room 371, West Block, the Vice-Chair, Judy Bethel, presiding.
Members of the Committee present: Mauril Bélanger, Judy Bethel, Val Meredith, Maria Minna and Osvaldo Nunez.
Acting Member present: Réginald Bélair for Stan Dromisky.
In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Margaret Young, Research Officer.
Witnesses: From the Department of Industry - Information and Communications Technologies: Keith Parsonage, Acting Director General, Software, Advanced Networks and New Media Branch; David Mulcaster, Director General, Manufacturing, Investment and Market Development Branch.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee resumed its study of Citizenship and Immigration Canada's foreign workers policy (See Minutes of Proceedings dated Tuesday, March 11, 1997, Issue No. 6, Meeting No. 38).
Keith Parsonage made a statement and, with the other witness, answered questions.
Mauril Bélanger moved,--That the following schedule of meetings for the period covering April 15, 1997 until April 24, 1997 be adopted:
Tuesday, April 15, 1997 at 3:30 o'clock p.m.
Bill C-237, An Act to amend the Immigration Act and the Transfer of Offenders Act,
Department of Citizenship and Immigration and the Department of the Solicitor General;
Thursday, April 17, 1997 at 3:30 o'clock p.m.
A study of Citizenship and Immigration Canada's foreign workers policy
- Draft Report to the House.
Tuesday, April 22, 1997 at 3:30 o'clock p.m.
A study of Citizenship and Immigration Canada's foreign workers policy,
- Draft Report to the House.
Wednesday, April 23, 1997 at 3:30 o'clock p.m.
A study of Citizenship and Immigration Canada's foreign workers policy,
- Draft Report to the House.
Thursday, April 24, 1997 at 3:30 o'clock p.m.
Bill C-237, An Act to amend the Immigration Act and the Transfer of Offenders Act,
- The Canadian Council for Refugees and the Department of Justice.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was agreed to on the following division:
YEAS, 3; NAYS, 1.
At 5:30 o'clock p.m., the Committee adjourned until Thursday, April 10, 1997.
Santosh Sirpaul
Clerk of the Committee
THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 1997
(Meeting No. 44)
(Meeting No. 44)
The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration met in a televised session at 3:35 o'clock p.m. this day, in Room 253-D, Centre Block, the Chair, Stan Dromisky, presiding.
Members of the Committee present: Mauril Bélanger, Judy Bethel, Stan Dromisky, Val Meredith, Maria Minna and Osvaldo Nunez.
In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Margaret Young, Research Officer.
Witnesses: (Roundtable format I) From Corel Corporation: Lynn Nicholson, Manager of Human Resources. From Newbridge: Dr. Jocelyn Ghent-Mallett, Member of the Chairman's Executive Council. From IBM: Wayne Scott, Manager, Government Programs. (Roundtable format II) From Beament Green Dust Lawyers: Warren L. Creates, Lawyer for Immigration. From Greenberg/Trister/Turner: Howard Greenberg, Past Chair of the Canadian Bar Association of Ontario; Benjamin J. Trister, Barrister and Solicitor. From the CBM Cross Border Management Inc.: Elda Paliga, President.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee resumed its study of Citizenship and Immigration Canada's foreign workers policy (See Minutes of Proceedings dated Tuesday, March 11, 1997, Issue No. 6, Meeting No. 38).
Mr. Nunez moved,--That the normal practice of allocation of time for the questioning of witnesses by the members of the Committee be followed.
After debate, the question being put on the motion, it was agreed to on the following division:
YEAS, 2; NAYS, 3.
Lynn Nicholson from the Corel Corporation made a statement and answered questions.
Dr. Jocelyn Ghent-Mallett from Newbridge made a statement and answered questions.
Wayne Scott from IBM made a statement and answered questions.
At 4:47 o'clock p.m., the sitting was suspended.
At 4:52 o'clock p.m., the sitting resumed.
Elda Paliga from the CBM Cross Border Management Inc. made a statement and answered questions.
Howard Greenberg from Greenberg/Trister/Turner made a statement and answered questions.
Warren L. Creates from Beament Green Dust Lawyers made a statement and answered questions.
Benjamin J. Trister from Beament Green Dust Lawyers made a statement.
At 5:55 o'clock p.m., the Committee adjourned until Tuesday, April 15, 1997.
Santosh Sirpaul
Clerk of the Committee
TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 1997
(Meeting No. 45)
(Meeting No. 45)
The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration met at 3:42 o'clock p.m. this day, in Room 269, West Block, the Chair, Stan Dromisky, presiding.
Members of the Committee present: Colleen Beaumier, Judy Bethel, Stan Dromisky, Val Meredith, Maria Minna, Osvaldo Nunez and Tom Wappel.
Acting Members present: Réginald Bélair for Mauril Bélanger; Janko Peric for Dan McTeague.
In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Margaret Young, Research Officer.
Witnesses: From the Department of Citizenship and Immigration - Enforcement Branch: Pierre Bourget, Director General; Brian Grant, Director, Program Development; Neil Cochrane, Director, Case Presentation and Detention. From the Department of the Solicitor General: Arden Thurber, Director General, Offender Reintegration, Correctional Service of Canada; Richard Zubrycki, Director General, Corrections; Robert Cormier, Director, Corrections Policy.
Pursuant to its Order of Reference dated Friday, March 15, 1996, the Committee resumed consideration of Bill C-237, An Act to amend the Immigration Act and the Transfer of Offenders Act (See Minutes of Proceedings dated Tuesday, June 4, 1996, Issue No. 4, Meeting No. 17).
Pierre Bourget from the Department of Citizenship and Immigration made a statement.
And questioning continued.
At 4:05 o'clock p.m., the sitting was suspended.
At 4:37 o'clock p.m., the sitting resumed.
And questioning resumed.
Richard Zubrycki from the Department of the Solicitor General made a statement and, with Arden Thurber, answered questions.
At 5:35 o'clock p.m., the Committee adjourned until 3:30 o'clock p.m., Thursday, April 17, 1997.
Santosh Sirpaul
Clerk of the Committee