First, immigration detention is not imprisonment. In fact, it was the person's choice to settle in Canada and it is also their choice to leave the country, if they want, during the time they are in detention.
Second, in nearly all liberal democracies there is an immigration detention system that is much more stringent than what we are proposing in this bill. In the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and a number of countries in Western Europe, they have to be kept in an immigration detention centre until final determination of their case.
We are proposing this kind of tool solely for people who arrive in big waves. There are certain practical realities in that case. For example, when 500 people arrive, the border and police agencies have to be able to identify the passengers. When immigrants arrive in large numbers it is very difficult in practical terms. That is why we need a longer detention period. It allows the officers to identify who has arrived illegally.