As for the issues we're dealing with, we're having officials from the department come to give us background on refugee issues, which I think is crucial and which is something we've discussed doing before. The issue of backlogs of Federal Court cases: the refugee case backlog at Federal Court is an important issue and I'm glad this made it to the list. That's why the Department of Justice officials have been invited.
We've all heard of the changes in where new immigrants and refugees settle in Canada in our communities, and I raised the issue of the changes the suburban communities haven't had a lot of experience with in the past, and are now facing. The city of Burnaby is one where a large percentage of new immigrants and refugees from British Columbia are now settling, so there are a number of stresses on the community as a result of that. We thought it would be helpful to the committee to hear the experience of a particular community. I'm glad to say it's my own community, although most of the pressure is not in my riding; it's in the other Burnaby riding.
Private sponsorship was one of the specific refugee issues the committee identified back in the spring, so that's why it's on the list, to hear from folks on that particular issue.