Yes. Thank you, Chair.
I move that Bill C-12, in clause 49, be amended by replacing line 9 on page 22 with the following:
49 (1) Subsection 110(2) of the Act is amended by adding the following after paragraph (b):
(b.1) a decision of the Refugee Protection Division rejecting a claim for refugee protection that states that the foreign national who made the claim knowingly made a false or misleading statement or withheld material facts on a relevant matter;
(1.1) Paragraph 110(2)(d.1) of the Act is re‐
Colleagues, I made arguments earlier for the act writ large. This amends the rules for the refugee protection division specifically. I believe that if somebody lies to us, or lies to an officer, their refugee process should face the consequences of having the claim rejected.
For example, again, I direct your attention to one story of many, but this is timely. In the National Post this morning, a Somali woman in a polyamorous marriage lied to get into Canada. I believe she had many different names. She's being allowed to stay in the country. Well, if you lie to an officer, the whole system should be predicated on determining the eligibility of a refugee claim based on truthfulness. If we allow the system to be gamed by people who lie and change their story, or who outright lie over a period of time, then we're encouraging the abuse of the asylum system. We are.
I also think that people who lie about their circumstances to the officers make the system less compassionate for people who have legitimate claims and aren't lying. There should be no lying to officers if you are claiming refugee protection—or, frankly, in any circumstance.
I hope my colleagues will support this amendment.