The minister says “he was the best”. My family would agree with that. However he did not come with a resumé, a business plan and talk about how he would expand the country. He did expand it. He developed a business plan once he got here. It was an interesting one at different times, but I am not sure he would be considered the best and the brightest.
I agree that the immigration system should be bolstered by denying sponsorship to those convicted of spousal abuse, to those in default of spousal or child support payments, but then it says those on social assistance. Surely poverty is not a bar to immigration to Canada. Surely those who find themselves in need in their own countries for whatever reason and have to rely on state sponsorship would not be denied the opportunity to build a life in this country, the way that many of our ancestors did.
I know that the minister will answer these questions. This is the opportunity to debate and raise some of the reservations that we have and I welcome the opportunity to do that.