OH CANADA!!!

"Title">MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 6

Thursday, December 6, 2007

The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration met at 3:34 p.m. this day, in Room 269, West Block, the Chair, Norman Doyle, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Dave Batters, Colleen Beaumier, Robert Carrier, Olivia Chow, Norman Doyle, Meili Faille, Nina Grewal, Hon. Jim Karygiannis, Ed Komarnicki and Hon. Andrew Telegdi.

Acting Members present: Lloyd St. Amand for Hon. Maurizio Bevilacqua and Bradley R. Trost for Wajid Khan.

Other Members present: Alex Atamanenko.

In attendance: Library of Parliament: Penny Becklumb, Analyst; Sandra Elgersma, Analyst.

Witnesses: Department of Citizenship and Immigration: Les Linklater, Director General, Immigration Branch; Micheline Aucoin, Director General, Refugees Branch. Mennonite Central Committee: William Janzen, Director. War Resisters' Support Campaign: Phillip McDowell. As an individual: Jeffry A. House. Canadian Friends Service Committee: Gay Anne Broughton, Program Coordinator.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the Committee on Thursday, November 22, 2007, the Committee commenced its study of Iraq war resisters.

Les Linklater made a statement and, with Micheline Aucoin, answered questions.

William Janzen, Philip McDowell, Jeffry A. House and Gay Anne Broughton made statements and answered questions.

Jim Karygiannis moved, — The Committee recommends that the government immediately implement a program to allow conscientious objectors and their immediate family members (partners and dependents), who have refused or left military service related to the war in Iraq and do not have a criminal record and/or there has been no criminal or military warrants issued against them, to apply for permanent resident status and remain in Canada; and that the government should immediately cease any removal or deportation actions that may have already commenced against such individuals.

Olivia Chow moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “the war in Iraq” with the words “a war not sanctioned by the United Nations”; and by deleting the words “and/or there has been no criminal or military warrants issued against them”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Olivia Chow and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Colleen Beaumier, Robert Carrier, Olivia Chow, Meili Faille, Jim Karygiannis, Lloyd St. Amand, Andrew Telegdi — 7; NAYS: Dave Batters, Nina Grewal, Ed Komarnicki, Bradley R. Trost — 4.

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Colleen Beaumier, Robert Carrier, Olivia Chow, Meili Faille, Jim Karygiannis, Lloyd St. Amand, Andrew Telegdi — 7; NAYS: Dave Batters, Nina Grewal, Ed Komarnicki, Bradley R. Trost — 4.

The motion, as amended, read as follows: That the Committee recommend that the government immediately implement a program to allow conscientious objectors and their immediate family members (partners and dependents), who have refused or left military service related to a war not sanctioned by the United Nations and do not have a criminal record, to apply for permanent resident status and remain in Canada; and that the government should immediately cease any removal or deportation actions that may have already commenced against such individuals.

At 5:14 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Andrew Bartholomew Chaplin Clerk of the Committee

2007/12/10 3:40 p.m.

--   The best way to end the war is to support war resisters.  "War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige as the warrior does today." - John Fitzgerald Kennedy