House of Commons Hansard #130 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was treatment.

Topics

U.S. Decision Regarding Travel BanEmergency Debate

11:35 p.m.

Liberal

Ali Ehsassi Liberal Willowdale, ON

Mr. Speaker, when we see issues such as the one before us tonight, where Canadians from coast to coast to coast have demonstrated that this is an issue of great concern, of course we would all benefit greatly from understanding the views of the members here and the government would benefit from monitoring what our thoughts are and changing things as need be. Therefore, yes, I would certainly be very much in favour of that.

U.S. Decision Regarding Travel BanEmergency Debate

11:35 p.m.

NDP

Wayne Stetski NDP Kootenay—Columbia, BC

Mr. Speaker, I agree with many of the things my hon. colleague said. I just returned from a foreign affairs committee trip to Europe, and I would turn on the European news whenever I could. It was quite sad to see them start to refer not to the United States of America, this great country and neighbour, but to Trumpland. They would talk about what was happening that day or that week in Trumpland. So this beacon of hope and freedom that is our neighbour is getting a reputation around the world that is really quite unfortunate. We as Canadians really need to emphasize what it means to be Canadian and the fact that we value multiculturalism, diversity, and equity.

We have communities across the country, including my community of Revelstoke, which has private sponsors of refugees. They have been renting an apartment now for a number of months in a very tight rental market and have picked a family, and yet this family is stuck in the process. Would the hon. member agree to work with his government to expedite bringing more of these immigrants and refugees to Canada?

U.S. Decision Regarding Travel BanEmergency Debate

11:40 p.m.

Liberal

Ali Ehsassi Liberal Willowdale, ON

Mr. Speaker, if I could first refer to the member's observations in Europe, I fully agree with him. I think we can stand very tall on our record since late 2015, and that is something that has been noticed around the world. The world has watched as we have provided a home to no less than 45,000 Syrian refugees. Our numbers this year will also be incredibly generous.

To the second issue that was raised by my hon. colleague, as he is likely aware, as was stated by the Minister of Immigration earlier today, for this year the government has—wisely, I would say—agreed to triple the number of privately sponsored refugees, so that is something where we have seen evidence of support among Canadians over the course of the last year, and I think that is the right approach for us to pursue in the current year.

U.S. Decision Regarding Travel BanEmergency Debate

11:40 p.m.

Fredericton New Brunswick

Liberal

Matt DeCourcey LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Speaker, as we near the end of the debate this evening, I would like to begin by recognizing the tragic events that took place at the Quebec City Islamic cultural centre and state unequivocally that the people of Fredericton, whom I have the pleasure to represent here, stand in solidarity with the members of the Quebec City Muslim community and all Muslims across this country.

I would like to thank the hon. member for Vancouver East for introducing the motion to debate this issue this evening, the U.S. executive order issued by the White House on January 27, which restricts travel and immigration to the United States from seven named countries.

With the integrated nature of Canada's economy with the world and in particular with the United States, it is important that Canadians have accurate and up-to-date information on any new measures that affect business and their travel.

Canada's prosperity and that of the United States are entwined. Our countries' trade and investment relationship is worth $1.4 trillion. More than 400,000 people and $2 billion worth of goods and services cross our shared border every day. Our relationship is responsible for millions of jobs in both countries.

That is why, as soon as the executive order was issued, we decided to assess its impact and make sure Canadians get all of the relevant facts as quickly as possible.

Regardless of the change in government, our immediate move to build relationships put Canada in a position to ask representatives at all levels of the U.S. government for information about next steps and repercussions and to convey our concerns in relation to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. We have managed to obtained assurances on those matters.

First, let me reassure Canadians that this executive order will not substantially affect them. The documentary requirements for crossing the border have not changed for Canadian citizens and no new visas or other authorizations are required. We do not anticipate that Canadian citizens, including those with dual citizenships with one of the seven named countries, will experience any difference in their border-crossing experience when travelling on their valid Canadian passport.

As the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship clearly stated, we continue to be actively engaged at every level so that we can provide Canadians with greater certainty and clarity.

That is our first priority.

To that end, we are using every possible means to communicate with Canadians. Over the past few days, we have been continuously updating our website, travel.gc.ca, whenever new information comes in regarding the executive order. The Canadian embassy in Washington and our department are issuing and updating notices on social media on a regular basis. We send any information we receive about the executive order to the provinces and territories and we are in contact with the business community from both countries about the order and the impact it might have on them.

Canadians turned to us for help. Just so hon. members and my constituents are aware, I want to point out that since the executive order was signed on Friday, the Department of Foreign Affairs has received more than 100 calls and emails on the subject, and Canada's missions in the United States have received more than 50 requests for information. It should be noted that as of this morning, we have not had to open consular services to help Canadians affected by this executive order.

This opportunity to speak to Parliament allows me to share what we know and to reassure Canadians that we are doing our best to ensure that border crossings run as smoothly as possible and that Canadians and Canadian businesses continue to have reliable access to the United States.

In this regard, we are continuing to engage with our U.S. counterparts to protect Canadian interests going forward. This engagement is happening at all levels and with numerous departments and agencies. Senior Government of Canada officials have been working around the clock to quickly seek clarity for Canadians from the White House, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Department of Transportation, among others.

In addition, at the request of the Prime Minister, our national security adviser reached out to his counterpart in the U.S., Michael Flynn, to seek further clarification. I want to assure the House that officials through our embassy in Washington, D.C. are also continuing to engage their counterparts to get further clarity on the actions taken in the United States in the last few days, including on further direction provided to U.S. customs officials responsible for decisions at the border.

While efforts in recent days have focused on clarifying the scope and effect of the executive order, co-operation between Canada and the United States to ensure a secure and efficient border has been a long-standing and mutually beneficial partnership. We will continue to secure clarity and will work tirelessly to make sure that travel for Canadians and permanent residents can continue, that families can be with one another, and that businesses can continue to prosper, providing ongoing benefits to both Canada and the United States.

We will fiercely defend our national interests. Of course, it is in our interest to co-operate with our most important neighbour, the United States, and to also continue to engage constructively with the world. We hold this maxim to be true and will always reaffirm that Canada is stronger because of our diversity.

Canada is a country of immigrants and Canadians are proud of a long history of acting with compassion and humanitarianism to those seeking refuge for themselves and their families. We have always welcomed people in need of protection and we will continue to do so.

We remain committed to being an open and welcoming country and to embracing diversity. We will celebrate that and will continue to showcase it to the world. I have seen this reflected in the Fredericton riding, the riding I have the honour to represent, which settled, according to the local resettlement agency, more Syrian refugees per capita than elsewhere in the country. There are many stories that make me proud of this pan-Canadian effort, proud of Canadians, New Brunswickers, and my friends and neighbours in Fredericton.

In particular, I think of the Syrian boy last December with the first family to arrive at the Fredericton airport, clad in a heavy coat and red toque, who told us at the airport through an interpreter that he sought to grow up to be what he explained as a bone doctor. Due to the compassion, care, and generosity of Canadians, I know that one day, when I, my children, or my grandchildren slip on the ice on Queen Street outside of my office, we can look up to this young Syrian boy, who will no doubt be a leading medical professional in our community.

As the right hon. Prime Minister has said, Canada is stronger, not weaker, because of our differences. As a multicultural, multi-faith, and inclusive society, Canada is well positioned to champion peaceful pluralism, respect for diversity, and human rights internationally, and we will continue to do so with pride.

U.S. Decision Regarding Travel BanEmergency Debate

11:50 p.m.

NDP

Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC

Mr. Speaker, the member made a comment about national interest and I would like to ask the member, is it not in our national interest also to stand up and defend human rights? This ban from the Trump administration undermines the essence of that. There are refugees who have had their applications for refugee status completed or close to completion in the United States who will not be able to enter the United States.

In the interest of national interest and in the spirit of defending human rights, would the member agree it is incumbent upon us, Canada, to bring in a special measure to ensure that those refugees are not left in limbo and to work with the international community to get the job done?

U.S. Decision Regarding Travel BanEmergency Debate

11:50 p.m.

Liberal

Matt DeCourcey Liberal Fredericton, NB

Mr. Speaker, as our Prime Minister and members of this government have stated clearly, we will defend our record as promoters of human rights, plurality, and peace around the world. We will promote the great work done by Canadians right across our country to welcome the 40,000 refugees who are now a part of our community. We will not shy away from sharing these values in every possible forum, whether in our bilateral relationships, whether through multilateral organizations like the UN, la Francophonie, and the Commonwealth.

We can all agree that we are proud of the work that has been undertaken by members in this chamber and Canadians right across the country over the last year. We will promote and speak forcefully to the world about the great result that has yielded for our country.

U.S. Decision Regarding Travel BanEmergency Debate

11:50 p.m.

Conservative

Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate my friend on his new role. He and I had the honour of being part of a delegation to the United States up to and during the U.S. election. It certainly it was a fascinating trip. I know we both learned quite a bit. It was quite eye opening about what was going on there.

I want to ask the member to share a bit more about how Canadians can be sure about the impact on them of this executive order, especially Canadians who may be from one of these seven countries and contemplating travel to the United States. We have heard assurances that assurances have been given, but how do we know, insofar as those clarifications are not in the executive order and insofar as there is a lack of clarity with the legal status, what decisions individual border guards will make unless we have clear public statements or directives in writing from the administration directly?

Maybe in his role, the member has information about this he can share. I think Canadians watching would really appreciate that specific information so they can have some of that greater assurance.

U.S. Decision Regarding Travel BanEmergency Debate

11:50 p.m.

Liberal

Matt DeCourcey Liberal Fredericton, NB

Mr. Speaker, I certainly cherish the opportunity that my friend and I had to learn from our neighbours to the south in their electoral experience last October and November.

I believe the member would have heard earlier this evening the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship speak about the measures that he had taken immediately following the coming down of the executive order to seek clarity about the situation for Canadian citizens who held dual citizenship as well as permanent residents. He continues to work around the clock to seek clarity as the situation changes.

Other members of the cabinet, including the Prime Minister and his team, are constantly seeking information from our American counterparts and are sharing this information as we get more clarity through the variety of channels we have, whether on Government of Canada websites and through different forms of media. Members of Parliament are also working hard to share this information with constituents in their own communities across the country.

U.S. Decision Regarding Travel BanEmergency Debate

11:55 p.m.

NDP

Alistair MacGregor NDP Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC

Mr. Speaker, I certainly appreciate that I have the last spot in tonight's emergency debate.

I want to start by thanking my great friend from Vancouver East for bringing forward this debate and all of the Canadians both in the galleries and across this great country who have been listening to us, as well as the pages who have had to stay up with us at this late hour.

Like many Canadians, I was surprised by the meteoric rise of Donald Trump as the Republican nominee and his eventual election as the President of the United States. His campaign was marked by misogyny, racism, xenophobia, and a complete disregard for the most basic of facts. In my opinion he represented the absolute nadir of American politics, a political manifestation of the worst kind of reactionary demagoguery not seen since 1930s Europe.

It was once my hope that the Office of the President of the United States, which is arguably the most powerful and responsibility-filled position in the world, would somehow temper the man and make him reach out to all Americans and indeed the rest of the world and assure them that the campaign was now over and that he was going to try to govern in a more moderate course of action. I now see that it was a false hope.

We are here tonight to bring to light the actions of our neighbours and our friends. We have been listening to Americans, whether they have been lining up in protests at American airports, or whether it has been people in positions of power like American governors, senators, or members of congress speaking out. These are the people in the United States who have shown the real courage to speak out when they see something is wrong. It is up to us as Canadians and as their neighbour to also do something.

One of my caucus colleagues when he was offering some commentary on the state of politics in Canada offered this bit of wisdom. He said we have got to stop talking about what we are doing; we have to start talking more about whom we represent and why we are here.

In my opinion, the Liberals tonight have been speaking too much about what they are doing. We on this side of the House are talking about why we are here and whom we represent. My phone, like the phones of many of my colleagues across the House, has been ringing off the hook from the weekend on; constituents are concerned with the actions of our American neighbour. They want us as the people's representatives of this great country to speak up and give voice, to have this country speak with more courage and conviction, as world leaders have already done. That is what we are asking for, and for us to back those words up with meaningful action.

We realize that on that side of the House there may be some members of Parliament who are afraid of rocking the boat of the friendship and the relationship we have with the United States. That may be the case.

I will conclude on this point. The measure of a friendship is not how we act during the good times. The real measure, the real test, comes in how our relationship interacts during the tough times, when we see a friend, a valued neighbour, taking the wrong course of action. The true measure of a friendship is when we have the courage to speak out against the wrong we see, the dishonoured people around the world who are being affected by this position that the United States president is taking. That is the true measure of a friendship.

It has been an honour to speak on this tonight. I hope that, through the debate that we have heard tonight, the government hears the people's voices and we start to see some action reflect the meaningful debate we have heard.

U.S. Decision Regarding Travel BanEmergency Debate

February 1st, Midnight

Conservative

The Deputy Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

It being 12 midnight, I declare the motion carried.

Accordingly the House stands adjourned until later this day at 2 p.m. pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).

(The House adjourned at 12:00 a.m)