CIMM 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
The Chair called Vote Vote 1b under Department of Citizenship and Immigration.
The Minister made a statement and, with Harpreet S. Kochhar and Soyoung Park, answered questions.
At 4:32 p.m., the meeting was suspended.
At 4:41 p.m., the meeting resumed.
Questioning of the witnesses resumed.
Paul Chiang moved, — That pursuant to standing order 108(2), the committee undertake a study of no more than two meetings to examine the temporary public policy to facilitate temporary resident visas for certain extended family affected by the crisis in Gaza; including the challenges that the Government of Canada faces in facilitating the exit of Gazans and that Canada is not the only country that faces these challenges; that the committee invite the Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship to appear for one hour with departmental officials and that departmental officials appear for an additional hour; that the committee invite other relevant witnesses in accordance with the usual practices of the committee; that the committee report its findings to the House; and that pursuant to Standing Order 109 the government table a comprehensive response to the report.
Debate arose thereon.
Tom Kmiec moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the word “Gaza” the following: “and Sudan” and after the word “Gazans” the following: “and Sudanese, ”.
After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Tom Kmiec and it was agreed to.
Jenny Kwan moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the words “these challenges;” the following: “that the study include examination of the development and execution of the Government of Canada's special immigration measures to reunite and help bring Canadian Gazan family members to safety, including extended family; that the committee also consider Canada's use of it's diplomatic relations to help facilitate the free movement of persons authorized to travel to Canada; that the committee consider testimony from affected families as well as Canadian civil society;”.
At 4:55 p.m., the meeting was suspended.
At 5:06 p.m., the meeting resumed.
After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Jenny Kwan and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:
YEAS: Shafqat Ali, Paul Chiang, Fayçal El-Khoury, Arielle Kayabaga, Jenny Kwan, Salma Zahid — 6;
NAYS: Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Tom Kmiec, Larry Maguire, Greg McLean, Brad Redekopp — 5.
The debate continued.
Jenny Kwan moved, — That the motion be amended by adding before the words “that the committee report its findings” the following: “and further that the committee order the production of all documents and records related to the policy-making considerations that led to the specific dimensions of the temporary public policy that opened on January 9, 2024, including the 1,000-person cap, the gradual issuance of access codes and delays in receiving codes experienced by many applicants, and the information requested from applicants on additional screening forms; that, while respecting s. 19, s. 23, and s. 69 of the Access to Information Act, these details be provided within 30 days of the adoption of this motion and relevant documents are released in full to the public;”.
Debate arose thereon.
At 5:22 p.m., the meeting was suspended.
At 5:29 p.m., the meeting resumed.
At 5:34 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.