Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance. In the budget tabled on Monday, the minister decreed that a $975 fee will now be charged to every person who wishes to immigrate to Canada. This large amount of money is on top of the $500 processing fee all immigrants already have to pay.
Does the minister not realize that it makes no sense to ask prospective immigrants to pay $975, as this may represent up to a year's salary or more in their countries of origin?
Why do future immigrants have to pay for the government's deficit?