Thank you very much, Mr. Plourde.
I am speaking to you today not only as a lawyer, but also as the father of two children. I have two daughters: Sabine, 13 years old; and Naomi, 17 years old. My children were the inspiration for the following three scenarios.
In the first scenario, I arrive in Canada with Naomi and Sabine. The minister designates me as an irregular arrival, which means that I must be detained. Naomi, who is 17, is also subject to that system and must be imprisoned for 12 months with me. However, Sabine, who is 13, will have a so-called choice: she can either go to prison with Naomi and me, or be placed in an institution for 12 months and separated from her father and sister. Those are the options provided by Bill C-31. Not only as a lawyer, but also as a Canadian, I am ashamed to think that vulnerable individuals who are seeking protection in Canada may be detained.
In the second scenario, I am a Syrian refugee. I am an opponent of the current regime and have consequently come to Canada to seek protection. Fortunately, the court has recognized me as a refugee; I have been granted refugee status. Unfortunately, according to Bill C-31, as I have been designated as a refugee, I will be able to apply for permanent residency only in five years' time. I am very desperate to bring to Canada my daughters, who are still in Syria. I am afraid that the military members of the Syrian government are actively searching for me. I fear that, if they find my daughters, they will abuse them and ask them where their father is. I am afraid that, when my girls say that they don't know or that their father is abroad, they may be in physical danger. However, there is nothing I can do to bring them to Canada. I will not even be able to begin the process before my five years is up, and that means it may take seven years after I am recognized as a refugee for me to bring them over. That means that Sabine, who is 13 years old, will be 20, and Naomi, who is 17, will be 24, before I can see them.
Here is the third scenario. I arrive in Canada in 2000, from Algeria. I am recognized as a refugee. In 2002, I become a permanent resident of Canada. I marry a Canadian woman. We have two children, who are now four and seven years old. Of course, my children are Canadian, since they were born in Montreal. The minister is now claiming that circumstances in Algeria have changed, as the war has ended. There is still some violence, but the situation is not like it was in 2000. According to the Bill C-31 provisions on cessation and conditional permanent residency, I may have to appear before the board. My only defence will be claiming that the situation has not changed. I have always told the truth, but I may be sent back to Algeria. I could not use the best interest of my Canadian children as an argument. I have no right to an appeal. There is no forum where humanitarian considerations can be invoked.