Evidence of meeting #33 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was refugees.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Martin Collacott  Spokeperson, Centre for Immigration Policy Reform
Peter Showler  Director, Refugee Forum, Human Rights Research and Education Centre, University of Ottawa
Noa Mendelsohn Aviv  Director, Equality Program, Canadian Civil Liberties Association
Julie Taub  Immigration and Refugee Lawyer, As an Individual
Nathalie Des Rosiers  General Counsel, Canadian Civil Liberties Association
Toni Skarica  Crown Attorney, Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario
Debbie Douglas  Executive Director, Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI)
Francisco Rico-Martinez  Regional Director, Toronto, Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI)

6:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

Mr. Dykstra, this is not debate. She has her time.

6:15 p.m.

NDP

Jinny Sims NDP Newton—North Delta, BC

Canada is a nation that has a citizenship—

6:15 p.m.

Conservative

Rick Dykstra Conservative St. Catharines, ON

If we're going to have a debate, we'll have a debate.

6:15 p.m.

NDP

Jinny Sims NDP Newton—North Delta, BC

—from all over the place. That's what I'm saying, and they're just like Mr. Leung, and Rathika's family as well.

But what I really want us to focus on here is the human element. I've never lived in a refugee camp. I'm very grateful for that. But I've read and seen enough and worked with enough children who've lived in refugee camps to know that we, as Canadians, cannot forget our humanity in some kind of bogus quest to think we can fix what's going on in other countries. If there is fraud, let's go after it, and let's do it in a way that targets those who commit fraud and not the victims.

I know I'm running out of time, but when you come across the people you work with, Francisco and Debbie, can you give us a brief human landscape of the kinds of situations they've left behind when they've come here seeking asylum?

6:15 p.m.

Regional Director, Toronto, Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI)

Francisco Rico-Martinez

Well, refugees are seen as a threat. But refugees are not a threat; refugees are threatened. That's when we open the door of our office. We receive families and single people from everywhere. The people who are more traumatized are sometimes the ones who don't understand even why they are in Canada in the first place, and especially their children. The children are the last people to understand that.

Our suggestion for dealing with this situation is to create multidisciplinary teams will address the human needs of everybody, including language, housing, and the many issues we have.

6:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

I'm sorry, sir, but we have to call it a day. The bells are ringing, and the boys and girls have to go to vote.

I'd like to thank you, sir, and Ms. Douglas, and Mr. Skarica for coming here and making excellent presentations to us.

We will reconvene here tomorrow morning at 8:45.

This meeting is adjourned.