Evidence of meeting #57 for Finance in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was knowledge.
A video is available from Parliament.
6:25 p.m.
Director, Romero House
Well, the thing that is different is that the refugee system is a federally regulated system. That is why in health care there has been, and now will continue to be, a federal program for providing health care. This is a national standard that should be in place to ensure that refugee claimants are not denied social assistance.
So I would say that I would be in agreement with you if the federal government were to step up and offer an alternative.
6:25 p.m.
Conservative
Dave Van Kesteren Conservative Chatham-Kent—Essex, ON
I guess I would argue that it gives provinces, who are on the front lines—you're on the front lines too, but the provinces are the ones who are actually going to pay the bills—the ability to say....
For instance, let's take a border town like Niagara. If they had a flood of refugees who crossed the border, wouldn't that give the provinces a little bit of a lead way to say, “Yes, we can't stop you from crossing the border, but that won't guarantee that you're given refugee status or at least be looked after as we have in the past”? Doesn't that seem like a reasonable approach to that situation?
6:25 p.m.
Director, Romero House
I don't agree that it seems like a reasonable approach to that situation.
6:25 p.m.
Conservative
6:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
Thank you, Mr. Van Kesteren.
Thank you, colleagues.
On behalf of all colleagues, I want to say thank you to our witnesses for being here and for your contribution to this budgetary process. If any of you have anything further, amendments or otherwise, please submit them to the clerk and we'll ensure that all members get them. Thank you.
The meeting is adjourned.