On Tuesday, members of Parliament agreed on the necessity for ministers to testify publicly "as soon as possible" regarding the immigration and security screening of a father and son who were recently charged in connection with an alleged failed terrorism plot in Toronto.

In an emergency meeting of the Public Safety and National Security Committee of the House of Commons, members of Parliament from all major parties unanimously voted to call Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, Immigration Minister Marc Miller, and the relevant federal officials to answer questions about the case.

While the session began with tension, it ended relatively quickly with little bitterness, as the opposition chose to support a liberal motion after making some amendments.

The committee agreed that senior officials would begin appearing later this month as part of a series of six hearings on the matter.

Among the MPs who want to hear from them are Canadian Royal Mounted Police Commissioner Michael Duheme, Acting Director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Vanessa Lloyd, President of the Canada Border Services Agency Erin O’Grady, as well as Deputy Ministers of Public Safety and Citizenship, along with former Public Safety Minister and current British High Commissioner Ralph Goodale.

In July, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police arrested Ahmad Fouad Mustafa Al-Didi, 62, and Mustafa Al-Didi, 26, in Richmond Hill, Ontario, accusing them of being "in the advanced stages of planning a serious and violent attack in Toronto".

Both face a series of terrorism-related charges, including conspiracy to commit murder on behalf of ISIS or at its direction or in concert with it.

Most of the charges stem from alleged activities conducted in Canada. However, the father was also accused of committing aggravated assault abroad in June 2015 on behalf of the terrorist group. The men briefly appeared in court on Tuesday, having denied the charges against them, and they remain in custody.

Global News reported, citing unnamed sources, that the father immigrated to Canada after being captured participating in ISIS violence abroad, and that his son does not hold Canadian citizenship. CTV News has not independently confirmed this report.

The committee will examine "the security screening process in place for reviewing applications for permanent residence and citizenship, to ensure that individuals involved in terrorist activities cannot enter Canada".

The liberals specifically suggested that MPs investigate why the parent Al-Didi was allowed to enter, and after some rephrasing by the opposition, the proposal was broadened to investigate specifically how he obtained citizenship.

The Conservatives and the New Democratic Party are calling for hearings

Earlier this month, the Conservatives led a call for hearings on this matter, stating that Canadians deserve answers and assurances to address potential flaws in the vetting process. The New Democratic Party supported the proposal, paving the way for the hearing on Tuesday.

Conservative MP Jamil Jivani, citing his desire to examine what he called "the systemic failures that occurred," stated that the thwarted attack left many people in the Toronto area distraught.

Jivani said, "We are very grateful that law enforcement has done its job to address the issue, and to thwart the attempt of the terrorist conspiracy. But in the end, there are still many questions remaining."

"We believe that just as law enforcement is doing its job, Parliament should do its job as well, seeking transparency, prioritizing public safety, providing answers to the questions posed by Canadians, and helping Canadians feel confident that they are safe in this country."

In response, Liberal MP Jennifer O'Connell - who initiated the proposal that was ultimately approved - stated that this matter illustrates why the federal government has been granting the Canada Border Services Agency more resources. She cited comments made by the agency after the previous Conservative government reduced staffing, warning of the impact it could have on the ability to keep criminals out of the country.

O'Connell said, "We look forward to holding these meetings so that the Conservatives can truly appreciate that their cuts have consequences for our national security and the safety of our communities. So we strongly support these amendments and conducting this conversation."

Trudeau: Internal review underway

In the face of scrutiny over how the couple was allowed to enter Canada, Minister LeBlanc emphasized last week that the main federal agencies are conducting an internal review of the timeline and circumstances of this case.

He accused the opposition of politicizing an active criminal case, and facing the possibility of being called to testify, he stated he would have more to say publicly when appropriate.

While he seemed to cast doubt on some of the circulating information, the minister also defended the federal security apparatus.

LeBlanc said last week, "The fact that these two individuals are currently in jail facing serious criminal charges should give Canadians confidence that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and their partners have done a good job in this case."

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters on Monday that the federal government takes the internal review of the situation "very seriously."

When asked if the federal government knew more about how the father and son immigrated to Canada, Trudeau said he would not comment further as the government’s investigation is ongoing.