I want to thank Canada for admitting my parents. I am a proud Canadian of Haitian origin, but I am first and foremost of Haitian origin. So I understand the problems and suffering people experience.
In my office, I met with a woman who had been raped by 15 people and saw her husband kill himself. She came to Canada when she was pregnant and she is left on her own. I think we have a duty to show that we really are a society and a country that has values.
I definitely suggest that a work permit be granted as quickly as possible and a social insurance number be assigned automatically at the same time. That would enable people to start working right away.
I suggest that a way be found to bring people to the regions by giving them incentives to encourage them not to all stay in the same place, and so avoid a possible housing shortage, for one thing. I am very much in favour of that idea.
I also believe that changes have to be made to the immigration process. I thank the lawyers for all the work they do for refugee claimants. I know the COVID-19 pandemic meant they had to use a new portal. I think the virtual interviews or hearings are completely devoid of humanity, particularly when a refugee claimant is not sitting beside their lawyer or has a wi-fi connection that doesn't work.
So we have a lot of work to do, to find a way that will reassure people so they are able to make their voice heard and feel accepted here.
