Thank you, Chair.
I just want to put on record that I voted against the amendment because the language, the way the main motion is, is putting the blame on newcomers. Canada is a country that has been built by newcomers. Many of us sitting around this table came to Canada to build a better future.
The issue right now, what we are discussing, is international students. The federal government has a certain jurisdiction. Provincial governments have a certain role. All this blame is not for the federal government. Who gets admission at which college and which university is the decision of the designated learning institutions, and who gives accreditation and who lists them as designated learning institutions? It's the provincial governments.
In my home province of Ontario, it's the provincial Conservative government. The issue is not the international students; the issue is that many international students are being defrauded. We definitely need the talent of the international students, but at the same time, we have to make sure that those international students who come here are protected also. The issue is with those private colleges, which, if you go there, you see are one- or two-room colleges, but they have thousands of students listed as students there.
The provinces have to step up and make sure that before they admit students or before they identify an institution as a designated learning institution, they do their full homework and make sure that those institutions that have no capacity to absorb those students are not listed as designated learning institutions. It is really very important that provinces look into this issue seriously to determine which colleges can be designated learning institutions and to establish a process before these students are admitted.
I hope the provinces will look into this issue, because it is adding to many issues for the international students. In talking with international students and their deputations, I have heard that in many cases international students have been defrauded either by their institution or by some lawyers or consultants. As we are all here, it is really very important that we look into this.
Housing definitely is an issue. We definitely need to build housing, and since we came into government in 2015, we have created a national housing strategy. I was with the Prime Minister back in December at an announcement of a significant chunk of money being given to the City of Toronto to build more houses through the housing accelerator fund, so we are stepping up and we are having agreements with many cities to make sure that we build those houses faster.
There is no one thing that can be done to build more houses. It's different, and all governments have to take responsibility. Provincial, federal and municipal governments all have to step up to make sure that we have appropriate housing for those students who are coming to Canada to build a better future.
I definitely will not support this motion, but it is important at the same time that we make sure that we don't put the blame on the immigrants. This country has been built by immigrants. If you heard, last week there was a study showing that the birth rate is declining here in Canada, so it is important that we welcome new immigrants but at the same time it is important that we make sure that no fraud is happening with the international students.
Thank you.