Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
I know that some witnesses suggested the idea of a weighted system for the parents and grandparents lottery. I just want to point out that back in 2017, for example, when the lottery system first was introduced, 100,000 people submitted their interest to apply. If we go to a weighted system, and because there are only so many slots, you could theoretically create a scenario where only the people who apply would be able to enter the draw. That means there would be no new applications that would be allowed for submission.
I appreciate the sentiment, but, really, the best option going forward, in my view, is to make sure that there is no cap. Otherwise, you effectively go back to the previous system that the Conservatives did—basically, capping the number of applications with the weighted system—and I don't think that's really what we want to achieve.
I'd like to ask the officials this question. Last year, 68,800 spouses, common-law partners and children were admitted to Canada, and this year the minister's target is 49,000 decisions for the same stream. Does that mean that...? Could the officials advise us on whether this 49,000 includes both negative and positive decisions?