Sure. There are three questions there: funding, consultations, and levels.
In terms of levels, thank you very much for your letter. I do appreciate being specific and your giving us input on this.
In Mr. Davies' letter of October 14, essentially what he suggested is up to 1% of the population, which would be 336,000 admissions.
Your first question was whether we had considered putting on a bigger plane. Yes, we have already done so. We've increased average immigration levels by 14%, as opposed to the levels under the previous government. The previous government admitted, on average, 220,500 people. This government has admitted 254,000, on average. That is an increase of 14%.
Second, going to what you're suggesting, that 336,000 would have a negligible effect on backlogs and processing times, that is really the problem that I don't think you're grappling with. You can have a thoughtful discussion about the optimum rate of levels for the Canadian economy or what have you, but in terms of backlog reduction, which I believe is the focus of the study, if you don't significantly limit new applications, moving admissions up to 336,000, as you've suggested, won't do the job.
I think you're being a bit incomplete in the way you're presenting your views. Because in the same letter, Mr. Davies says that preferably he urges the government to provide an option to all temporary foreign workers to apply for permanent residency. That would be an additional 140,000 people in the queue.
What you're really saying is 336,000 plus 140,000, which would be 476,000 people. Mr. Davies, if that's what you're advocating—doubling immigration—that's fine, but I hope you are transparent about that with your constituents in British Columbia, 80% of whom are saying immigration levels are high enough or too high.
In terms of consultations--