Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to be here, in Ottawa, and to have the opportunity to respond in detail to the question asked by my hon. colleague, the member for Calgary Nose Hill.
As the Prime Minister has indicated, Canada made a commitment to the international community to respect the rights of asylum seekers and refugees.
As my honourable colleague is aware, if someone claims asylum in Canada because that person is fleeing persecution, war or violence, we have a legal obligation to review that request according to international conventions. At the same time, we must protect the safety of Canadians and keep our borders safe.
It is important that this situation is approached through a rigorous but efficient and fast process.
Providing adequate resources for front-line operations is essential. That is why our government is strengthening our border security and speeding up the processing of asylum claims, through an investment of a further $173.2 million, including $74 million for the IRB.
We also continue to engage the United States and other countries to help deter irregular migration and to correct misinformation about Canada's asylum system. I am happy to report that our efforts are paying off. Over the summer we have seen a notable decrease in the number of arrivals when compared to the same period last year. This is a very positive development and something I am sure that my hon. colleague is happy to hear.
Our country adheres to a rules-based system. We treat claimants with respect, but we must determine if their claims are valid. Our message remains clear to those seeking asylum into Canada: entering Canada between ports of entry is not and never has been a free ticket. There are rigorous immigration and customs rules to be followed, and make no mistake: we enforce them to safeguard our communities against security risks.
The actions we continue to take are consistent with the balance that the federal government is seeking to achieve: that Canada remains a place for those who genuinely need protection, but that we continue to safeguard the integrity of our immigration system and the safety of our citizens.
As the hon. member is well aware, there is no guarantee that those individuals will be allowed to stay in Canada. Indeed, if officials from the independent Immigration and Refugee Board determine that they do not have a legitimate asylum claim, they will be removed from this country.
As government members here in the House have indicated time and time again, we have a solid six-point plan in place to remedy the situation and guide us towards the best course of action.
The Government of Canada is unwavering in its commitment to ensure the safety of Canadians, protect our well-managed immigration system and fulfill our international obligations to protect those in need.