On motion of Brad Redekopp, it was agreed, — That Sukh Dhaliwal be elected Chair of the committee.

At 4:27 p.m., Sukh Dhaliwal took the Chair.

Jenny Kwan moved, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee conduct a study on the government's progress around the regularization of undocumented workers; the impact of closed work permits for temporary foreign workers; and the findings related to Canada's Temporary Foreign Workers program by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, Tomoya Obokata; that the committee invite the United Nations Special Rapporteur to appear before the committee for one hour; that officials from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and Employment and Social Development Canada also be invited to appear before the committee for one hour total; that the study consist of no more than five meetings; that the committee report its findings and recommendations to the House; and that, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee request that the government table a comprehensive response to the report.

Debate arose thereon.

At 4:40 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:56 p.m., the sitting resumed.

By unanimous consent, the motion was withdrawn.

Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe moved, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study of closed work permits issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and their impact on temporary foreign workers; that the committee devote at least four meetings to conduct this study; that the committee invite the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship and IRCC officials to testify for one hour each, and invite any other witnesses the committee deems necessary; and that the committee report its findings and recommendations to the House.

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study of closed work permits issued by IRCC and their impact on temporary foreign workers and of the findings related to Canada's Temporary Foreign Workers program by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, Tomoya Obokata; that the committee devote at least three meetings to conduct this study; that the committee invite the United Nations Special Rapporteur to appear before the committee for one hour; that the committee invite the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship to testify for one hour and IRCC and ESDC officials to testify together for one hour; that the committee invite any other witnesses the committee deems necessary; and that the committee report its findings and recommendations to the House.

Jenny Kwan moved, — That evidence received by the committee during its study of closed work permits and temporary foreign workers be considered by the committee during its study of persons with temporary status and undocumented individuals.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

Jenny Kwan moved, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee invite the newly appointed Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship to appear before the committee for one hour to brief the committee on the Minister’s priorities and objectives for the department and that, in the context of the committee’s study of the exploitation scheme targeting certain international students, the committee request that the taskforce officials from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency subsequently appear before the committee for one hour, for a total of two hours, to update this committee on actions taken to address the exploitation scheme.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Shafqat Ali, Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Paul Chiang, Fayçal El-Khoury, Arielle Kayabaga, Jenny Kwan, Larry Maguire, Greg McLean, Brad Redekopp, Clifford Small, Salma Zahid — 11;

NAYS: — 0.