Mr. Speaker, I will repeat what I said for the hon. member's benefit. The safe third country agreement is based on the UNHCR-accepted principle that individuals should seek asylum in the first country they arrive in.
Again, as the minister said yesterday in the House, the head of the UNHCR in Canada is on record as stating that the domestic asylum system in the United States is intact, and therefore it would be irresponsible, he did say irresponsible, to withdraw from the safe third country agreement.
The safe third country agreement remains an important tool for Canada and the U.S. to work together on handling of refugee claims made in our countries.
The Government of Canada will continue to provide protection to those in need, as it has always done.