The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration met at 3:31 p.m. this day, in Room 371, West Block, the Chair, Norman Doyle, presiding.

Rick Stewart and Susan Kramer made statements and, with the other witnesses, answered questions.

The Committee resumed the adjourned debate on the motion of Olivia Chow, — That the Committee recommend that the government allow any applicant (unless they have serious criminality) who has filed an in-Canada spousal or common law sponsorship application to be entitled to an automatic stay of removal until a decision is rendered on their application, that the Committee adopt this recommendation as a report to the House and that, pursuant to Standing Order 108(1), the Chair present it to the House.

A point of order was raised concerning the appropriateness of resuming debate on the motion when the Committee had agreed to hear a briefing on spousal sponsorship and removals, had asked for further information from the department and had not yet received it.

RULING BY THE CHAIR

The Chair ruled the point of order valid because the Committee had agreed to the briefing and asked for further information pertinent to the briefing that had not yet been provided, so the briefing, for the purposes of the Committee, was not yet complete.

Whereupon, Andrew Telegdi appealed the decision of the Chair.

The question, “shall the ruling of the Chair be sustained“ was put and it was negatived by the following show of hands: YEAS: 5, NAYS: 4

Debate resumed on the motion of Olivia Chow.

Thierry St-Cyr moved, — That the motion be amended in its second line by substituting the words, “filed an in-Canada spousal” by the following: “filed their first in-Canada spousal“ .

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Thierry St-Cyr and it was agreed to.

Andrew Telegdi moved, — That the motion be amended by adding between the words “entitled to” and “an” the words: “a temporary work permit and“.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Andrew Telegdi and it was agreed to.

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

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That the Committee recommend that the government allow any applicant (unless they have serious criminality) who has filed their first in-Canada spousal or common law sponsorship application to be entitled to a temporary work permit and an automatic stay of removal until a decision is rendered on their application, that the Committee adopt this recommendation as a report to the House and that, pursuant to Standing order 108(1), the Chair present it to the House.

It was agreed, — That the Committee append to its report a dissenting opinion from the Conservative Party of Canada provided that it is no longer than the report itself and submitted electronically to the Clerk of the Committee, within 24 hours.

At 5:31 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.