Citizenship and Immigration Committee on May 6th, 2010

[Jim Karygiannis, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Mr. Collacott, sir, my question was very simple. Is Turkey a refugee-producing country or not, in your opinion?

[Martin Collacott]

It is sufficiently democratic that it would probably fall into the category of safe country of origin--

[Jim Karygiannis, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

So, sir, someone--

[Martin Collacott]

--even though they do have some internal problems, there's no doubt about that.

[Jim Karygiannis, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Sir, somebody who is there as the Ecumenical Patriarch of the Orthodoxy and/or the Patriarch of the Armenians, he should have no problem, correct?

[Martin Collacott]

Are you asking me a question?

[Jim Karygiannis, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

The Ecumenical Patriarch, sir, of the Orthodoxy, should he have a problem in Istanbul? He shouldn't. It's a democratic country, right?

[Martin Collacott]

I haven't followed his.... Yes, they do have some problems, but I'll suspend my judgment on Turkey.

Let me mention where there has been a spike: Mexico, where there is a lot of domestic violence--

[Jim Karygiannis, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Mr. Collacott, sir, my question is on Turkey.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Order.

Mr. Karygiannis, I have a problem. Both of you are speaking at the same time.

[Jim Karygiannis, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Chair, my question was on Turkey--

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Well, I'm speaking--

[Jim Karygiannis, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

If--

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Mr. Karygiannis, I happen to have the gavel.

[Jim Karygiannis, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Stop the clock, sir.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

I am not going to stop the clock until you listen to what I have to say.

I'm saying to you that both of you can't speak at the same time, so please, when you ask a question, let him finish the answer before you ask him another question.

[Jim Karygiannis, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Chair, I thank you for that.

Mr. Collacott, sir, I'm not interested in Mexico. I'm interested in Turkey. If you cannot answer on Turkey, then say so. Can you answer questions on Turkey, sir?

[Martin Collacott]

I would like to look at Turkey in more detail, but I listed a host of countries that are clearly safe countries of origin and where there is no doubt.

[Jim Karygiannis, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Mr. Collacott, sir--

[Martin Collacott]

Some countries we might have to have some discussion on whether they're safe or not. I'm--

[Jim Karygiannis, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Mr. Collacott, un moment, s'il vous plaît.

[Martin Collacott]

--not going to discuss marginal cases at this point.

[Jim Karygiannis, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Mr. Collacott, sir: Turkey. Is it a safe country, yes or no? A simple answer, sir, yes or no.

[Martin Collacott]

No. I'm not going to give you a simple answer. I would want to consider it further. I've already named a host of countries where there is a very clear question.

[Jim Karygiannis, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Well, let me--