Citizenship and Immigration May 22nd, 2013

Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to family reunification. In fact, thanks to our plan for faster family reunification, we are on track to cut the backlog and wait times in half so families will be reunited with their parents and grandparents.

In 2012-13, we are admitting the highest level of parents and grandparents in 20 years.

Questions on the Order Paper May 21st, 2013

Mr. Speaker, with regard to section (a) and section (b), a comprehensive response would require an arduous and time-consuming manual search of all of CIC’s reports and is not feasible in the requested time frame.

With regard to section (c), the information requested is not readily available through CIC’s financial system.

Questions on the Order Paper May 10th, 2013

Mr. Speaker, with regard to (a), the delegation that accompanied the Hon. Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism throughout his visit to Iraq included Christopher Mahon, minister’s office, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Canada; Dominic Roszak, minister’s office, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Canada; and John Milner, security officer, Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

With regard to (b), the time, date, location, and nature of all government business conducted by the minister were as follows: Wednesday, March 6: 08:30, arrive at British Embassy, breakfast and informal briefing by head of mission and Iraq program manager; 10:30, installation ceremony of new Chaldean Patriarch, Louis Raphael I Sako; 12:00, depart for lunch reception at Palestine Hotel; 14:00 , depart lunch reception for meeting with Vice-President Kudhair al-Khuzaie; 14:30, call on Vice-President Kudhair al-Khuzaie; 15:10, call on Speaker of Iraqi Council of Representatives, Osama al-Nujaifi; 16:10, visit to Our Lady of Salvation Syriac Catholic Cathedral, where officials were met by Bishop Afram Yousif Abba; 17:00, delivery of Sako’s first divine liturgy at St. Joseph’s Cathedral Church; 19:15, dinner with Dindar Najman Duski, Minister of Displacement and Migration, at Rasheed Hotel.

Other meetings occurred, for which no information is available in the department about time, date, location and nature. They include meetings with Mohammed al-Doreky, Deputy Minister, Foreign Affairs, Government of Iraq, and Dr. Ali Allq, Secretary General, Council of Ministers Secretariat, Government of Iraq.

With regard to (c), we do not have the final cost. Total cost will be available via proactive disclosure as per Treasury Board guidelines.

The security officer travelled directly from Ottawa. The RCMP assumes this cost. Any additional information cannot be provided owing to security-related issues.

Passport Canada May 10th, 2013

Mr. Speaker, we have made it very clear that Canadians are not going to experience any service interruptions whatsoever during this time frame. They will continue to have access to passport services at all of the same locations currently available in the country, and as I indicated, we are actually going to be able to expand those services in the near future.

Passport Canada May 10th, 2013

Mr. Speaker, this is all about improving services for Canadians and making them more convenient and more accessible. In fact, the ministry already determines and issues citizenships, so it only makes sense that the passport program would actually come under the same portfolio.

Over time, we are actually going to be able to improve the service. At service kiosks across this country, Canadians will be able to apply for their passports in a much more timely and broader manner.

Questions on the Order Paper May 6th, 2013

Mr. Speaker, with the changes to the interim federal health program, the government expects to save approximately $100 million over the next five years. If the changes were reversed, the government would lose these savings.

Questions on the Order Paper May 6th, 2013

Mr. Speaker, the loss in savings would be $5.2 million annually, starting in 2014-15.

There are no reductions in the staff at the Citizenship and Immigration Canada call centre.

Citizenship and Immigration May 3rd, 2013

Mr. Speaker, as part of our government's transformational changes to the immigration system and a new improved federal skilled worker program, tomorrow we will begin accepting new applications. The updated selection criteria will help us attract immigrants who will be ready to integrate more rapidly and successfully into Canada's economy, helping spur economic growth and long-term prosperity. This is good news for newcomers and their families who will begin integration into this country with a job and a promise for tomorrow. It is good for this country. It builds on our economy for today and for the long term. We are moving in the right direction.

Anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands May 3rd, 2013

Mr. Speaker, as a Canadian of Dutch descent whose parents felt the oppression of Nazi Germany invading their country, I am pleased to rise today to highlight the 68th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands.

The struggle to liberate the Netherlands was an important chapter in the events leading to the victory in Europe and the end of the Second World War.

Over nine long and gruelling months, more than 7,600 Canadians gave their lives to help bring freedom and peace to this country.

Whether in my local Lincoln and Welland Regiment, which helped in the liberation at Bergen op Zoom, or in the graveyards of Holton, where a number of members of Parliament went last year and laid a wreath during that ceremony among the rows and rows of Canadian soldiers who sacrificed their lives for liberation, we will always remember with everlasting gratitude the contributions of all who served and all who made the supreme sacrifice.

Let us never forget.