Art Hanger

[Immigration, May 25th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, we are concerned about the millions of legitimate refugees who are languishing all over the world, many close to death.

This minister is making it easy for the migrants who have the economic wherewithal to travel to Canada and claim asylum. We are concerned about queue jumpers.

Will this minister admit that under his supervision the inland acceptance rate has shot up 12 per cent and that inland asylum seekers are jumping the queue and straining our ability to accept desperately needy refugees from abroad?

[Immigration, May 25th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I would be delighted to ask the question again for the minister.

My question to the minister was how can he justify talking tough and at the same time create an all new level of bureaucracy to pave the way for failed asylum seekers to stay in Canada?

[Immigration, May 25th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

A couple of weeks ago the minister for immigration did some tough talking. He said he wanted to close loopholes and prevent people who should not be in Canada from coming in through the back door.

However, last week he changed his tune. Now he says the system is too strict and that we need to accept more people whose refugee claims were rejected.

How can this minister justify talking tough and at the same time create an all new level of bureaucracy to pave the way for failed asylum seekers to stay in Canada?

[Bosnia, May 5th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to the attention of all Canadians the tragic plight of children in Bosnia.

None of us has been unaffected by the misery in Bosnia that we witness nightly. The children deserve a special degree of compassion. Untold thousands are homeless. Thousands have lost their parents. We do not know how many are languishing as refugees.

I urge Canadians to remember these innocent victims. I especially urge Canadians to support the work of Bosnian Children's Relief. I do not need to tell you, Mr. Speaker, that in your riding five Bosnian children are now safe and secure, having been granted a safe haven by Bosnian Children's Relief, but there are many more.

I call on the minister of immigration to review the guidelines relating to the granting of temporary safe haven visas for children.

With the help of the government, Bosnian Children's Relief could do much more in helping to preserve the innocence of children caught in an adult nightmare.

[Immigration, May 3rd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, if I have said something that offends this minister, then I withdraw it. However, I am talking about his department.

My question to the minister is this: How can this minister in good conscience continue to preach about getting tough and at the very same time disband that unit which provides Canadian families the most protection from dangerous deportable criminals?

[Immigration, May 3rd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, it is that one plane crash that causes horror and devastation. That is the one we are talking about today.

Here is a fact. Just two short weeks ago this minister disbanded the permanent residents unit which tracks down and apprehends the most dangerous deportable criminals in Canada. This is the sort of criminal this minister's appeal division and refugee board seem to enjoy putting on Canadian streets.

My question for the minister-

[Immigration, May 3rd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

The minister had the opportunity for some tough talk over the weekend. He promised to get tough and to close loopholes for deportable criminals.

Last week the immigration and refugee board gave refugee status to a man convicted in Canada of raping an 18-month old child.

In light of this fact could the minister tell the House exactly what concrete measures have been taken during his tenure to toughen up and to protect Canadians from criminals his department allows to stay in Canada?

[Immigration, April 27th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the individual in question was issued a stay on his deportation order in 1993 despite the fact he had a criminal record as long as his arm, and that was with the knowledge of the department.

When will the minister finally acknowledge that his department's system of background checks and enforcement is not working? How many more lives are going to be lost before the minister takes action to ensure the safety of Canadians?

[Immigration, April 27th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the minister of immigration.

It has been revealed that one of the individuals arrested in Toronto in connection with the Just Desserts killing had an ongoing involvement with Canadian immigration officials and the minister's department.

This individual had been ordered deported in 1992 but had been given a stay of proceedings on that deportation order again by the minister's department in 1993. Had this individual been deported on time he would not have been charged in connection with the murder of Georgina Leimonis.

Why was this individual given a stay on his deportation order in 1993 by the minister's department?

[Pearson International Airport Agreements Act, April 26th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I do not believe there was a question there. There was certainly a considerable amount of information passed through his five minute presentation.

Again, going back to the royal commission and looking at taxpayers' dollars, what is to be gained by striking a royal commission? In looking at previous royal commissions they have been very expensive in nature. Can this matter be handled in a much more efficient way than a royal commission and the expenditure of millions more?

I know that Mr. Nixon did a study on the matter and there were certain recommendations and I believe that we should be looking closely at those recommendations. If they indicate that there should no compensation then there should be no compensation. I am certainly much in favour of that.

Apart from that, I really do not have anything more to say in reference to the member's comments.