Thank you very much.
I appreciate the different points of views and comments, and from the Canadian Bar Association, as always, they are very thoughtful and detailed with their brief.
In the series of recommendations you have presented to us in your document, Mr. Bellissimo, it lists the issues around the flaw of the current system as it stands. I now grant that you're right: the current system is hugely flawed. The question for me becomes, is it fixable? If we use the premise of our basic rights in recognizing human rights, I take the point of view that I don't think it's fixable.
We heard yesterday from a number of witnesses. In fact, in yesterday's presentations from the two panels, they were unanimous in saying it's not fixable. In my office I've received over 1,000 emails from people saying this section of the law needs to be repealed. Mr. Bellissimo, in your submission to us, on page 2 under “Priorities and Processes” it reads:
To deliver a successful immigration program, the need to protect public health and the integrity of the Canadian health care system must be balanced with the legitimate needs of migrants, in a manner consistent with Canadian Charter values and international human rights.... This is particularly important given the vulnerability of non-citizens with disabilities. The focus cannot be on prohibiting applicants with a medical condition from entering Canada.
On the basis of this paragraph alone—and I don't think I heard an answer from you when the question was asked about whether or not, aside from trying to fix the problem, on the issue of rights alone, should the government not entertain the idea of repealing this discriminatory policy and law?