Evidence of meeting #17 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was you're.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Lena Metlege Diab Liberal Halifax West, NS
It isn't up to me to step in as a judge, a defence lawyer or a prosecutor. I'm here to do my job in the present.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Okay.
However, that's exactly why I'm asking you the question. If it has happened in the past, it can necessarily happen again in the future. We absolutely want to avoid that.
If a former Liberal minister said that a former Liberal prime minister had violated the Elections Act and even used the federal government and its resources to influence an election process, I understand that you would denounce such actions and that you would never do such a thing.
Right?
That's the question. You can answer me with a yes.
Liberal
Lena Metlege Diab Liberal Halifax West, NS
As I said, we're working to ensure that our immigration system has integrity, works well and attracts the best talent possible.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
It's a simple question, Minister.
You wouldn't do that, would you?
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
If someone did something that you wouldn't do, because you find it unacceptable, don't you think that person should come and explain themselves before the committee, then?
Liberal
Lena Metlege Diab Liberal Halifax West, NS
As I said, it isn't up to me to step in as a judge, defence lawyer or prosecutor. That isn't my role.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Does that mean you have no opinion, even if the person has admitted to acting in that way?
Bloc
Liberal
Lena Metlege Diab Liberal Halifax West, NS
You're talking about election laws and other things that don't concern me. I don't know the specifics of the situation you're talking about.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
That's reassuring. You're a minister, you're part of the executive, and you're saying that election laws don't matter to you.
Liberal
Lena Metlege Diab Liberal Halifax West, NS
I'm telling you that we will continue to work to have the best system in the world.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
If your department is used to influence an electoral process, you don't mind, then. That's what I understand, since you're saying that you aren't concerned with election laws.
Liberal
Lena Metlege Diab Liberal Halifax West, NS
As minister, I'm focused on the present and the integrity of our system.
Bloc
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Okay, so you aren't interested in election laws.
In a statement sent to Radio‑Canada on Tuesday, your office said that Ottawa had already done enough for Quebec because $1.5 billion had been sent to Quebec.
That's an aggregate of amounts that were sent to Quebec under its agreement with Canada to reimburse it for its expenses in a number of files. However, there's nothing in there for asylum seekers, strictly speaking, so Minister Roberge sent you a letter asking for $733 million.
The question is simple: Are you going to reimburse Quebec?
Liberal
Lena Metlege Diab Liberal Halifax West, NS
If you like, we can send you the figures on all the amounts that Canada has sent to Quebec.
Liberal
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
I'm talking about the $1.5 billion.
Can you break it down by sector?
You didn't just write a cheque for $1.5 billion. You sent various amounts that, when added up, total $1.5 billion.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dzerowicz
Thank you, Mr. Brunelle‑Duceppe and Minister.
That is the time. You can continue this in the next round.
We'll now move to the second round, and we will begin with five minutes for Ms. Rempel Garner.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Thank you.
Minister, in late September, the Toronto Star reported that over a million temporary residents had expiring visas, and yesterday, Statistics Canada said it had not counted 38% of non-citizens. It is no wonder that Canadians can't find a family doctor.
Will you support an amendment to ensure that your department cannot use the part 7 powers of Bill C-12 to mass extend temporary resident visas?
Liberal
Lena Metlege Diab Liberal Halifax West, NS
I know you brought that forward to the committee and you worked hard on this. We appreciate—