House of Commons Hansard #70 of the 37th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was community.

Topics

Immigration And Refugee Protection ActGovernment Orders

12:55 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Immigration And Refugee Protection ActGovernment Orders

12:55 p.m.

Some hon. members

No.

Immigration And Refugee Protection ActGovernment Orders

1 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker

I will let the member for Churchill conclude her remarks and hopefully the negotiations will be brought to a conclusion the next time the matter is raised.

Immigration And Refugee Protection ActGovernment Orders

1 p.m.

NDP

Bev Desjarlais NDP Churchill, MB

Mr. Speaker, as I was saying, there was a situation where a woman in India wanted to come to Canada to see her first grandchild. She travelled close to 200 kilometres to make her application only to then have it denied. She did not have a record so there was no reason for the denial. It was suggested that she would not return to India even though she had a husband there and they had a business. Once again it was presumed that the person would commit a crime before it was committed. I find that disheartening.

I will take this opportunity to admit to those who are not aware that I am a grandmother. For that reason it was especially upsetting for me to hear that this woman, who wanted to come and see her first born grandchild, was not allowed to. Again, there was no reason for it.

I know of another situation involving a young woman from China who wanted to visit her sister who is married to a Canadian. I am not sure if the woman's sister is working but the husband works in Canada.

This young woman lives on a very low income in China and I understand her family helped out by making sure she had enough money to visit Canada. Once again, she was denied the opportunity to visit Canada just because she might not go back.

In every case that I have seen like this it has always involved women. I have seen issues relating to men wishing to come over but there had always been some reason why they could not come. In most of the cases that I have dealt with dealing with men there was no problem. However, in each of the cases involving women there were no crimes committed but they were not allowed to come to Canada just in case.

The gender issue has to be recognized as a problem. I acknowledge that an amendment was passed that dealt with that issue. I hope when I do have the chance to speak to the minister in more depth about these cases that we are able to sort out some of those issues.

I also want to comment on an amendment that did not pass, which I was quite upset about.

I will talk about another situation involving an older woman from India. However at the age I am at now she is probably not all that much older than I am. The woman had some problems with her knees. We are all getting on and we might have a little bit of arthritis or something like that. She was denied access because of her health problem. As it was not a severe health problem, there was no justification for not letting her in. This was a minor health problem and she was denied entry. The family was willing to sign a form saying that they would look after any medical costs but she was still not allowed in. On those issues alone I have been extremely disappointed with the system.

Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings

1:05 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

Ken Epp Canadian Alliance Elk Island, AB

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Churchill for being so gracious. There have been consultations with the other parties and I believe you would find unanimous consent for the following motion. I move that the 24th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented to the House earlier this day, be concurred in.

Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings

1:05 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker

Does the hon. member have the consent of the House to propose the motion?

Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings

1:05 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

(Motion agreed to)

The House resumed consideration of Bill C-11, an act respecting immigration to Canada and the granting of refugee protection to persons who are displaced, persecuted or in danger, as reported (with amendment) from the committee, and of the motions in Group No. 1.

Immigration And Refugee Protection ActGovernment Orders

1:05 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker

Is the House ready for the question?

Immigration And Refugee Protection ActGovernment Orders

1:05 p.m.

Some hon. members

Question.

Immigration And Refugee Protection ActGovernment Orders

1:05 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker

The question is on Motion No. 1. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

Immigration And Refugee Protection ActGovernment Orders

1:05 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Immigration And Refugee Protection ActGovernment Orders

1:05 p.m.

Some hon. members

No.

Immigration And Refugee Protection ActGovernment Orders

1:05 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker

All those in favour of the motion will please say yea.

Immigration And Refugee Protection ActGovernment Orders

1:05 p.m.

Some hon. members

Yea.

Immigration And Refugee Protection ActGovernment Orders

1:05 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker

All those opposed will please say nay.

Immigration And Refugee Protection ActGovernment Orders

1:05 p.m.

Some hon. members

Nay.

Immigration And Refugee Protection ActGovernment Orders

1:05 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker

In my opinion the yeas have it.

And more than five members having risen:

Immigration And Refugee Protection ActGovernment Orders

1:05 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker

The recorded division on the motion stands deferred.

The next question in on Motion No. 2. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

Immigration And Refugee Protection ActGovernment Orders

1:05 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Immigration And Refugee Protection ActGovernment Orders

1:05 p.m.

Some hon. members

No.

Immigration And Refugee Protection ActGovernment Orders

1:05 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker

All those in favour of the motion will please say yea.

Immigration And Refugee Protection ActGovernment Orders

1:05 p.m.

Some hon. members

Yea.

Immigration And Refugee Protection ActGovernment Orders

1:05 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker

All those opposed will please say nay.

Immigration And Refugee Protection ActGovernment Orders

1:05 p.m.

Some hon. members

Nay.