Thank you, Chair.
Thank you, Minister, for coming today.
My questions will be in relation to the levels that have been announced for 2016.
The government has been criticized for reducing the levels of economic immigrants, possibly in favour of other categories such as family reunification. However, it should be noted that being separated from one's family and loved ones is a serious detriment and causes stress and a lack of support that can make life very difficult for the immigrants to integrate into Canadian society and to be contributing members of the Canadian economy.
Would it therefore not hold that family reunification actually provides a net positive economic benefit for Canada, and that it should be encouraged?