Madam Speaker, I proudly rise to support this bill introduced by the hon. member for Scarborough-Rouge River. He has set a course that is practical and realistic in terms of solving some of the problems we presently have in the immigration system.
I would like to see this idea expanded toward the family sponsorship of immigrants. There are increasing numbers of experiences where families sponsor immigrants to come to Canada. Then in a very short time for whatever reason they abrogate their contract with the federal government to continue their support. Therefore, seems that the principle of bonding would be a very practical means of accomplishing this.
I also suggest to the hon. member that in terms of student visas, young people who come to Canada to get their education, the principle of bonding could be applied as well. That would allow Canadian educational institutions to offer their services to young people from other parts of the world.
I speak from personal experience. Some of my friends and I attempted to have a young Dominican man admitted into Canada to complete his education which he could not get in the Dominican Republic. He was turned down twice. A write-in campaign was launched with the minister and with the adjudicating officer in Santo Domingo. He had to participate and take documentation with him to show he had won the president's citation four years in a row in that country and that he was a highly respected member of his community, and so on.
Finally after the third attempt, this young man came to Canada. He is here now completing his education in computer science. He will go home bringing something very new and special to that country. His mother continues to reside there.
This is a very positive step. Having run this idea by my constituents in the last few months in speaking to chambers of commerce and various people I have received only positive response. They felt very strongly that this was a good new direction to take and that it would help very much to solve some of those problems that end up often causing a backlash among settled citizens in this country. Anything we can do to overcome that is a positive step.
My constituency office has been in touch with various people in the immigration department. The suggestion has been floated there. I can say it has received positive response even there.
I commend the hon. member. This is an excellent move. I would like to see it expanded and moved into a larger base. I do not believe for one minute that my friends in the Reform Party can be serious that this would simply be tacked on as a cost of doing business, if you like, for somebody to buy their way into the country.
It seems to me that all that needs to be dealt with there is how that bond is applied and at what level. This is a mechanical process and I do not think it needs to be simply the price tag for getting into Canada.
I appreciate the opportunity to endorse this bill.