Paul Forseth

[National Security, October 2nd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the minister talks about cold cases. We still have a PLO terrorist in Brantford for 12 years and the government has not been able to deport the individual. It sounds like the minister is in a fantasy bubble.

On the frontline today we know there is no tracking of visitor visa compliance, no tracking to enforce student visa overstays and no system to ensure deportation of failed claimants. When will the minister simply give us a date when these enormous holes can be plugged so at least we can begin to feel secure?

[National Security, October 2nd, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the citizenship and immigration minister has now less than 90 days to implement UN security council resolution 1373, which calls for effective border controls and the issuance of identity papers and travel documents to prevent forgery or fraudulent use.

Bill C-11 is certainly not strong enough on that score. Will the minister use her administrative powers today to implement the United Nations resolution?

[Terrorism, October 1st, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the minister is certainly overselling Bill C-11. The answers she gives do not match up to the frontline reality. The United Nations Security Council wants the government to act. The United States wants the government to act and immigrant communities want the government to act. We see from opinion surveys that Canadians also want the government to act to bring in common sense changes to the way the country deals with refugee claimants.

When will the minister finally deliver the changes Canadians and our international partners want enacted to our refugee screening system?

[Terrorism, October 1st, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the United Nations has made two very clear demands on the government with the passage of resolution 1373: first, prevent terrorists and their supporters from using refugee claims to enter this country and, second, subject refugee claimants to comprehensive background checks to ensure that they are not terrorists.

What real, concrete action is the government prepared to take to answer the UN resolution call and ensure that refugee claimants are screened and terrorists are not allowed to abuse our generosity? It has to be more than Bill C-11.

[Citizenship and Immigration, September 26th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I am told that only 15% are ever known to leave the country. The minister is announcing improvements that could have been made at any time in the past is there had just been some political will over there.

U.S. Attorney General Ashcroft is now asking that surprise arrivals be detained until declared safe and legitimate. Will the minister do the same to stem the current tide of people being at large in Canada without any appropriate security checks?

[Citizenship and Immigration, September 26th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. Under existing lax refugee law, up to 80% of claimants at some border crossings fail to show up for their IRB hearings. We just do not know where they go.

Could the minister tell us specifically what in her new screening process will fix this outrageous problem?

[Supply, September 25th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to be recorded on this vote as voting in favour.

[Terrorism, September 25th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the American report states that the United States faces a growing threat from organized crime groups that are using Canada as a gateway for criminal activity directed at the United States.

Today U.S. attorney general Ashcroft again confirmed those fears.

Why are we seeing a pattern of ignoring warnings, never responding in a timely manner and never implementing effective security checks?

[Terrorism, September 25th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, the immigration minister admits her department started thinking about terrorists and criminals using Canada as a launching pad only after the White House released its international crime threat assessment last year.

The minister has had a full year to think about it. Why has nothing been done?

[Immigration, September 24th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I think the immigration minister is overselling the merits of Bill C-11.

The American ambassador told us all this week that no nation can be sovereign without being secure. The minister knows that her own department has really failed on that score.

Why is the government not taking a leadership role in either meeting or exceeding American or other countries' refugee screening standards?