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Minutes of Proceedings

Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM)
44th Parliament, 1st Session
Meeting 17
Tuesday, April 26, 2022, 11:03 a.m. to 1:02 p.m.
Webcast
Presiding
Salma Zahid, Chair (Liberal)

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• Bernard Généreux for Jasraj Singh Hallan (Conservative)
Library of Parliament
• Julie Béchard, Analyst
• Martin McCallum, Analyst
• Madalina Chesoi, Analyst
Differential Outcomes in Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Decisions
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
• Sabreena Ghaffar-Siddiqui, Professor and Member, Ontario Steering Committee
Guide Me Immigration Inc.
• MD Shorifuzzaman, Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant
Rainbow Refugee Society
• Aleks Selim Dughman Manzur, Co-Executive Director, Programming and Advocacy
• Sharalyn Jordan, Chair
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the committee on Tuesday, February 1, 2022, the committee resumed its study of differential outcomes in Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada decisions.

Sabreena Ghaffar-Siddiqui, MD Shorifuzzaman and Aleks Selim Dughman-Manzur made statements and with, Sharalyn Jordan, answered questions.

Motion

Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe moved, — That the committee report the following to the House: In light of the fact that Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in China face an ongoing genocide, and in light of the fact that those in third countries are at continuing risk of detention and deportation back to China, where they face serious risk of arbitrary detention, torture, and other atrocities, the committee calls on the government to: a) extend existing special immigration measures to Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims, including the expansion of biometrics collection capabilities in third countries and the issuance of Temporary Resident Permits and single journey travel documents to those without a passport; b) allow displaced Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in third countries, who face risk of detention and deportation back to China, to seek refuge in Canada; c) waive the UNHCR refugee determination.

Debate arose thereon.

Amendment

Garnett Genuis moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the word “waived” with "replaced".

The debate continued

The question was put on the amendment of Garnett Genuis and it was negatived on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Bob Benzen, Bernard Généreux, Garnett Genuis, Brad Redekopp — 4;

NAYS: Shafqat Ali, Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Sukh Dhaliwal, Fayçal El-Khoury, Arielle Kayabaga, Jenny Kwan, Marie-France Lalonde — 7.

Amendment

Jenny Kwan moved, — That the motion be amended by adding the words "and that, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the government table a comprehensive response".

Subamendment

Garnett Genuis moved, — That the amendment be amended to replace the words, “and that, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the government table a comprehensive response thereto” with “and the government be asked to provide a comprehensive response by letter".

The debate continued

At 12:28 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:45 p.m., the sitting resumed.

After debate, the question was put on the subamendment of Garnett Genuis and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Bob Benzen, Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bernard Généreux, Garnett Genuis, Jenny Kwan, Brad Redekopp — 6;

NAYS: Shafqat Ali, Sukh Dhaliwal, Fayçal El-Khoury, Arielle Kayabaga, Marie-France Lalonde — 5.

The debate continued

Subamendment

Marie-France Lalonde moved, — That the Chair not table the report to the House until the government letter has been provided; and that the letter be included.

The question was put on the subamendment of Marie-France Lalonde and it was negatived on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Shafqat Ali, Sukh Dhaliwal, Fayçal El-Khoury, Arielle Kayabaga, Marie-France Lalonde — 5;

NAYS: Bob Benzen, Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bernard Généreux, Garnett Genuis, Jenny Kwan, Brad Redekopp — 6.

The debate continued

Subamendment

Garnett Genuis moved, — That the motion be amended by adding the words “ to the committee within 30 days.”.

The question was put on the subamendment of Garnett Genuis and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Bob Benzen, Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bernard Généreux, Garnett Genuis, Jenny Kwan, Brad Redekopp — 6;

NAYS: Shafqat Ali, Sukh Dhaliwal, Fayçal El-Khoury, Arielle Kayabaga, Marie-France Lalonde — 5.

The debate continued

The question was put on the amendment of Jenny Kwan and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Bob Benzen, Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bernard Généreux, Garnett Genuis, Jenny Kwan, Brad Redekopp — 6;

NAYS: Shafqat Ali, Sukh Dhaliwal, Fayçal El-Khoury, Arielle Kayabaga, Marie-France Lalonde — 5.

The question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Shafqat Ali, Bob Benzen, Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Sukh Dhaliwal, Fayçal El-Khoury, Bernard Généreux, Garnett Genuis, Arielle Kayabaga, Jenny Kwan, Marie-France Lalonde, Brad Redekopp — 11;

NAYS: — 0.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That the committee report the following to the House: In light of the fact that Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in China face an ongoing genocide, and in light of the fact that those in third countries are at continuing risk of detention and deportation back to China, where they face serious risk of arbitrary detention, torture, and other atrocities, the committee calls on the government to: a) extend existing special immigration measures to Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims, including the expansion of biometrics collection capabilities in third countries and the issuance of Temporary Resident Permits and single journey travel documents to those without a passport; b) allow displaced Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in third countries, who face risk of detention and deportation back to China, to seek refuge in Canada; c) waive the UNHCR refugee determination; d) and the government be asked to provide a comprehensive response by letter to the committee within 30 days.

Supporting Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims to find safety in Canada
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the committee on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, the committee commenced its study of supporting Uyghurs and other Turkic muslims to find safety in Canada.

ORDERED, — That the Chair present the report to the House.

At 1:02 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.



Stephanie Bond
Clerk of the committee