Mr. Speaker, I do not believe the Reform Party can determine fact from fiction. I see no other purpose for Reform's immigration pamphlet than to foster anti-immigration sentiment in the country.
The Reform Party states that Canada now accepts more immigrants per capita than any other country in the world. This is false. I urge the Reform Party to look to New Zealand first. Its pie chart shows immigration of skilled workers at only 21% when in fact the 1997 figures show over 55% were from the economic class.
The Reform Party claims that some immigrants are sponsoring extended families and people who are not really relatives. The Immigration Act only allows sponsorship of immediate family, parents and grandparents.
Reformers insist that they are committed to restoring the confidence of Canadians in the immigration system. They should start by speaking the truth.