Evidence of meeting #13 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was board.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Mr. Collacott, sir, my question was very simple. Is Turkey a refugee-producing country or not, in your opinion?
4:55 p.m.
Former Canadian Ambassador in Asia and the Middle East, As an Individual
It is sufficiently democratic that it would probably fall into the category of safe country of origin--
4:55 p.m.
Former Canadian Ambassador in Asia and the Middle East, As an Individual
--even though they do have some internal problems, there's no doubt about that.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Sir, somebody who is there as the Ecumenical Patriarch of the Orthodoxy and/or the Patriarch of the Armenians, he should have no problem, correct?
4:55 p.m.
Former Canadian Ambassador in Asia and the Middle East, As an Individual
Are you asking me a question?
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
The Ecumenical Patriarch, sir, of the Orthodoxy, should he have a problem in Istanbul? He shouldn't. It's a democratic country, right?
4:55 p.m.
Former Canadian Ambassador in Asia and the Middle East, As an Individual
I haven't followed his.... Yes, they do have some problems, but I'll suspend my judgment on Turkey.
Let me mention where there has been a spike: Mexico, where there is a lot of domestic violence--
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
Order.
Mr. Karygiannis, I have a problem. Both of you are speaking at the same time.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
I am not going to stop the clock until you listen to what I have to say.
I'm saying to you that both of you can't speak at the same time, so please, when you ask a question, let him finish the answer before you ask him another question.
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Chair, I thank you for that.
Mr. Collacott, sir, I'm not interested in Mexico. I'm interested in Turkey. If you cannot answer on Turkey, then say so. Can you answer questions on Turkey, sir?
4:55 p.m.
Former Canadian Ambassador in Asia and the Middle East, As an Individual
I would like to look at Turkey in more detail, but I listed a host of countries that are clearly safe countries of origin and where there is no doubt.
4:55 p.m.
Former Canadian Ambassador in Asia and the Middle East, As an Individual
Some countries we might have to have some discussion on whether they're safe or not. I'm--
4:55 p.m.
Liberal
4:55 p.m.
Former Canadian Ambassador in Asia and the Middle East, As an Individual
--not going to discuss marginal cases at this point.
5 p.m.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Mr. Collacott, sir: Turkey. Is it a safe country, yes or no? A simple answer, sir, yes or no.
5 p.m.
Former Canadian Ambassador in Asia and the Middle East, As an Individual
No. I'm not going to give you a simple answer. I would want to consider it further. I've already named a host of countries where there is a very clear question.