Mr. Speaker, among the many Canadian traditions lost by the wayside in the Liberal budget was the tradition of fairness.
The new $975 fee imposed on every new immigrant and refugee plus the existing fees will mean that a family of four will need to pay $3,150 just to get into the country. This new form of head tax will be a particular burden to immigrants and refugees from poorer countries with low average incomes.
Canada needs new immigrants if it is to maintain its population and economic base. Studies show that immigrants put more money into the Canadian treasury in taxes than they take out in services.
The government with this new discriminatory tax has created a major obstacle for the newly arrived. Where is the fairness? Where is the humanity?
No one denies the need to deal with the debt that former Liberal and Conservative governments have created, but surely we can have a leaner government without it becoming a meaner government.