Evidence of meeting #118 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 42nd Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was federal.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Sean Fraser Liberal Central Nova, NS
Regardless of what specifics we're using in a different context, the real point I'm trying to make is that it's not asylum seekers crossing borders that we need to fear; it's the ideas and the potential for discrimination that are invading our politics that I am most concerned about.
I wanted to take this chance. As an StFX graduate, you may appreciate, Minister, a very inspirational story about a newcomer family, the Hadhads, who are making chocolate in Antigonish. My friend Tareq Hadhad posted not long ago on Facebook. He said, “I am so sad how #Ontario government is acting against the real Canadian values of openness and welcome by spreading hatred that impacts directly the most vulnerable group of asylum seekers. No one was born to immigrate. But if they are forced to leave their homes, let's show some kindness! #kindnessMatters”.
This is the impact, intended or not, of some of the language being used, not just by you but people across the political spectrum. We need to be careful. My request is for you, when you get back to Queen's Park, to have a conversation with your colleagues—and I'll undertake to do the same with mine—that we be careful in our choice of language, because words matter. It's causing a real impact for the people who live and work in my riding.
Minister of Children, Community and Social Services and Minister Responsible for Women’s Issues, Government of Ontario
I don't agree with the characterization whatsoever. I look forward to going to New Glasgow, Nova Scotia next week for my 25-year high school reunion and to give a speech to the Pictou County Chamber of Commerce.
The rural values I grew up with extended well and have served me extremely well for the past five elections in the nation's capital, where I served with former minister Poilievre in Nepean—Carleton, which is one of the most diverse ridings in all of Ontario. It has welcomed not only immigrants from around the world, in particular from China and India, but also a number of Syrian refugees.
I really disagree with your characterization. In fact, I think that when you suggest this, you're actually contributing to the negative tone in this debate. This is a very emotional debate for many people.
I'm simply here today as the minister responsible for a number of different former ministries in the Province of Ontario. I have a $200-million price tag that I need you guys to pay for. You would rather have a debate on words. I would rather have a debate on making sure that I can fund my ministry and the programs that I'm responsible for, and that is children and youth, children in care, children in the justice system, children with autism. It is the Ontario disability support program. It is Ontario Works, women escaping trafficking, women escaping domestic violence. It is a plan to eradicate poverty in the province of Ontario. That is who I am standing up for: all the people in the province of Ontario who rely on my ministry for the services it delivers. I am here today indicating that there is a $200-million price tag that your government needs to pick up.
That's why I accepted the invitation. That's why I am here. I'm very happy to be back in the nation's capital. I live 20 minutes away. I have issues with the federal government making policy choices and then expecting the municipalities of Ontario and the Province of Ontario to pay for those.
I would encourage all of you to understand that there are severe constraints on the Province of Ontario and we are simply asking to be made whole. You can have a debate on the dictionary and the thesaurus, and I'd be happy to let you do that. I have a job to do, and I have very vulnerable people who rely on me to do that job, so I'm going to continue to do that.
Liberal
Sean Fraser Liberal Central Nova, NS
Minister, I support the causes you’re pursuing. I believe they're noble. I want you guys to be able to come to the table with us to help work on this problem because, as we learned through earlier panels, it is one of shared jurisdiction. We’re looking for a partner, and I hope and trust that we’ll be able to work with the Ontario government.
Minister of Children, Community and Social Services and Minister Responsible for Women’s Issues, Government of Ontario
I’m going to continue to do what all first ministers did last week.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant
I’m afraid I need to end it at that point. We have five minutes. We’re going to adjourn the meeting now, and we will begin our third meeting in about 20 minutes.
The meeting is adjourned.