Tomoya Obokata made a statement and answered questions.

Tom Kmiec moved, — Given that, the Globe & Mail recently reported that:

(a) The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is investigating “smuggling operations of Mexicans who fly to Canada without the need of a visa and then enter the United States illegally through Canada’s vast southern border”.

(b) According to the CBSA’s director-general of intelligence and investigation, these kinds of human trafficking and smuggling operations may be run by a “cartel member, associate, somebody just involved in serious or organized crime”.

The committee invite:

(a) The Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship to appear before the committee, separately, for no less than 2 hours;

(b) Officials from the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship to appear before the committee, separately, for no less than 1 hour;

Debate arose thereon.

Arielle Kayabaga moved, — That the debate be now adjourned.

The question was put on the motion and the result of the vote was announced:

YEAS: Shafqat Ali, Paul Chiang, Fayçal El-Khoury, Arielle Kayabaga, Salma Zahid — 5;

NAYS: Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Tom Kmiec, Larry Maguire, Greg McLean, Brad Redekopp — 5.

Whereupon, the Chair voted in the negative.

Accordingly, the motion was negatived.

The committee resumed debate on the motion proposed by Tom Kmiec.

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, Tom Kmiec, Jenny Kwan, Larry Maguire, Greg McLean, Brad Redekopp, Salma Zahid — 11;

NAYS: — 0.

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

At 12:13 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Questioning of the witness resumed.

At 12:30 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:41 p.m., the sitting resumed in camera.

It was agreed, — That the proposed budget in the amount of $500, for the Briefing on Migrant Trafficking and Smuggling, be adopted.

It was agreed, — That the proposed budget in the amount of $30,750, for the study of Persons with Temporary Status and Undocumented Individuals, be adopted.

It was agreed, — That the committee meet in camera , in an informal meeting, with a delegation from Finland on Monday, April 8, 2024, except if the Minister is available to appear on that day.

It was agreed, — That, notwithstanding the motion adopted on Monday, February 12, 2024 regarding the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) for Hong Kongers, the committee also invite officials of Public Services and Procurement (PSPC), Employment and Social Development (ESDC) and Global Affairs Canada.