I want to speak in favor of the NDP motion.
I want to remind the members of this committee that we're talking about human beings, about individuals and their families. We've had a good reputation -- it has been dented since then, I admit -- about what we did for the Vietnamese refugees.
During any period of major crisis, and especially during that one at the beginning, some people are able to find a solution because their case meets the exact legal criteria of the welcoming country. So, there are a number of boat people who were able to settle in Canada without any difficulties of a diplomatic nature. However, there are always some people whose case does not meet the exact criteria of existing legislations and who are left in limbo, which is what happened to these people.
If we pass this motion, it would be another recognition by our committee -- and, one day I hope, by the Minister -- that our refugee policy takes account of the fact that there are some human beings whose situation places them outside any existing legal framework. It would also be a recognition that we can have legislation that is sufficiently flexible to allow us to help a few hundred people whose situation is really dramatic, and that we have the strength, the will and the generosity required to welcome them.
I hope the committee will vote in favor of this motion.
Thank you.