I would like to ask you a few brief questions on some figures and statistics.
This issue was brought to my attention by people from Eastern Europe, and elsewhere. I would like to know from which countries you require claimants to fill out additional forms. I can point out Croatia as an example. Croatians are asked to fill out an additional form on war crimes. Aside from Croatian nationals, other nationals from this same region also have to fill out a similar type of form. Therefore, I would like to know when you last reviewed the necessity of imposing this form. You can simply send us this information.
Moreover, I find it appalling to ask everyone from the age of 21 to 65 to fill out this form. Given the period when the war took place, some of these applicants were only 7 or 8 years old. Is it appropriate to ask somebody who is 21 years old to fill out this form? It is appalling. I would like an explanation, because I get a lot of questions on this subject.
For each one of these countries, how many visas are requested? What is the acceptance rate? What are the reasons given when an application is refused? In our riding offices, we receive an increasing number of requests to intervene from people who come from certain countries. In some cases, some of the grounds for refusal are not necessarily justified. When we intervene in a case, we usually wind up resolving issues regarding suspicions. However, it is very time-consuming. I always mention this when you talk about the department's resources, because you forget about the 308 people who work in our riding offices. You appreciate what they do, and all the better. I hope the department will transfer part of its budget to us! I would like an answer in writing soon. You do not have to answer immediately.
We adopted certain guidelines concerning temporary workers. I know that Canada is a signatory of an international agreement on immigrants' rights. However, that agreement has not yet been ratified. Given the minister's announcements and interviews with different newspapers, it would seem that this path will be taken in the future.
What are the main obstacles to Canada's ratifying the agreement on immigrants' rights? Why are there delays? Nonetheless, Canada is a signatory, and several countries have already ratified it.