Evidence of meeting #17 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was claimants.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Former Canadian Ambassador, Member of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, As an Individual
Okay.
I produced an eight-page paper for the committee last October when you discussed the private member's bill. The reasons I think it's ill-advised and not going to advance anything are all in that paper. The original submission has probably been made available to you.
I think the RAD would not only perform no useful function but would reduce the effectiveness and the fairness of the existing system.
I'll leave it at that, but I would like to say that there hasn't been much indication, from my reading of testimony and the number of letters that have been put out to be mailed to MPs and so on, of any willingness to compromise on this bill among large groups of people. If 80% of the Canadian public thinks the system is failing and is inadequate, I think some way must be found to hear it from the 80%, rather than from the few professional organizations whose job it is to lobby.
I'd be glad to answer questions about any of the things I've said or anything else, at your leisure, Mr. Chair.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
Thank you for your presentation, Mr. Bauer.
Mr. Karygiannis, you have up to five minutes.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Thank you.
Mr. Bauer, can you tell us in which countries you were an ambassador?
Former Canadian Ambassador, Member of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, As an Individual
Well, let's say where I've served. I served in Poland from 1953 to 1955 during the Stalinist period. I served in North Vietnam when they were burying peasants up to their heads in order to produce land reform. I've served in Geneva, where I was attached to the ILO, to the Intergovernmental Committee on European Migration, and to various things. I served in Rome, where I was in charge of the consular service. I served in Washington, where I dealt with the Vietnam War and Eastern Europe.
I was ambassador to Thailand, Laos, and Burma from 1975 to 1979, just after the fall of Saigon. I was ambassador to South Korea between 1981 and 1985. My last four years as ambassador were to the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe, where I fought for human rights and the Helsinki Process.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Mr. Bauer, does a member of Parliament have a role in making representations abroad to consular services?
Former Canadian Ambassador, Member of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, As an Individual
Well, certainly. They always do.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
That's not what you said a couple of years ago, is it, sir? You know exactly what I'm talking about.
Former Canadian Ambassador, Member of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, As an Individual
No, I didn't. Tell me what I said, if you've researched everything I said.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Anyway, sir, I would leave it at that.
Mr. Bauer, you certainly do not appreciate—
Former Canadian Ambassador, Member of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, As an Individual
What did I say? Mr. Chairman, I don't know what I said two years ago.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Mr. Bauer, my question is this, sir. You say that the IRB—
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
Mr. Karygiannis, you opened this thing up. I'm going to let Mr. Bauer defend himself.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
You just pause and let him say what he wants to say. You started this.
Liberal
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
No. We're going to let Mr. Bauer speak now. It's his turn.
Go ahead, sir.
Former Canadian Ambassador, Member of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, As an Individual
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Karygiannis talked about something I said two years ago, and I'd just like to hear what it was. Perhaps I could clarify it for him.
Liberal
Former Canadian Ambassador, Member of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, As an Individual
I don't like these things left on the table without following them up.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
That's fine, Mr. Bauer.
You said today that on the IRB there should not be political appointments.
Former Canadian Ambassador, Member of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, As an Individual
No, I said I was opposed to patronage.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
But you also received a patronage appointment when you were a member of the IRB. Am I not correct?
Former Canadian Ambassador, Member of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, As an Individual
You are absolutely not correct.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
But it says here, “Member, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada”.