I know we can come up with some statistics for you.
Within Canada, I think we accept about 50% of the people who apply. We have a very generous system compared with the rest of the world when it comes to accepting refugee claims, but I'll make sure we confirm any numbers for you.
There's no question that there would be savings to the system—to the federal government—if the numbers of appeals were reduced in some cases, because in some of those cases people are not using the system as legitimate refugees, but to stay long enough so that they can get a positive ruling on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. But the other expense, of course, is to the provinces, who fund lawyers to defend people who make these claims. So it's in everyone's interest to make sure that the system is fair on the one hand, and on the other hand that it is not overly complex. There are probably some ways we can do that.
With respect to your first comment that you're new to this committee, I would say that knowledge is important, but commonsense and goodwill are just as important. I think you'll do just fine, even representing a rural riding. In my rural riding, we have lots of immigration issues because we have so many refugees. I think every MP, to some degree, gets a crash course in immigration just by virtue of their position.