Lucienne Robillard

[Immigration, October 21st, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I trust that, as Canadians, Reform Party members subscribe to our justice system and its presumption of innocence.

Someone charged with a crime is not immediately presumed to be a criminal. The judicial process must be allowed to take its course. But the moment people are sentenced, it is very clear that the Department of Citizenship and Immigration will take action.

[Immigration, October 21st, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, our department is very aware of the present state of affairs in Vancouver and is concerned about drug trafficking.

Despite what the opposition member just said, it was my department that created a committee last May to co-ordinate the efforts of all agencies involved, including the police, in order to find out exactly what is going on.

The Immigration Act provides us with all the tools we need, and if foreign nationals are found guilty of crimes in Canada, we will be able to deport them.

[Immigration And Refugee Board, October 21st, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party is blowing the situation out of proportion. It was handled well by the chair of the Immigration and Refugee Board. The people involved in the incident accepted the individual's apologies and, as far as the commission is concerned, the matter is closed.

[Immigration And Refugee Board, October 21st, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, an unfortunate incident occurred on the Immigration and Refugee Board. The commission chair—and I would remind the House that this commission is a quasi-judicial tribunal—requested an outside inquiry, which was carried out revealing no general problem within the commission. The individual in question offered an apology to the entire staff of the commission. Accordingly, as far as I, the minister responsible, am concerned the matter is closed.

[Canada Small Business Financing Act, October 2nd, 1998]

What a contradiction!

[Chilean Refugees, September 30th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, Canada is true to its humanitarian tradition in dealing with anyone who comes to Canada to seek refugee status. All these people received independent hearings but, unfortunately, many saw their claims denied.

We are currently working very closely with the Government of Quebec, which is in the process of screening some of these people. It is clear however that they will have to leave the country so they can apply as independent immigrants.

I do hope they will leave our country of their own free will.

[Chilean Refugees, September 29th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to inform the hon. member for Hochelaga—Maisonneuve that we are working on this matter in close collaboration with the Government of Quebec. He may not be aware of this, but I have not received any request from the Government of Quebec to stay the deportations of Chileans.

I believe that Canada is honouring its humanitarian traditions. It has accepted applications from all these individuals. They were entitled to an independent hearing by two board members, who found that they were not refugees, and they had the possibility of appealing to the Federal Court.

Now they have reached the stage of having to exit the country if they wish to apply—

[Competition Act, September 23rd, 1998]

moved that Bill C-20, an act to amend the Competition Act and to make consequential and related amendments to other acts, be read the third time and passed.

[Questions On The Order Paper, September 21st, 1998]

Citizenship and Immigration Canada, CIC

The rationale and criteria used in designating governments/regimes, including Afghanistan, under paragraph 19(1)( l ) of the Immigration Act:

Under paragraph 19(1)( l ) of the Immigration Act, senior members or officials associated with regimes that, in the opinion of the minister, committed gross human rights abuses or crimes against humanity are considered inadmissible to Canada unless the minister is of the opinion that their admission would not be contrary to the national interest. These officials need not have committed crimes against humanity themselves but, by virtue of their position during the period when atrocities were committed, likely agreed with or were able to influence the actions, laws and policies of the government, in addition to benifiting from the status brought about from being a part of that government.

Immigration headquarters has the responsability for researching the human rights record of regimes in consultation with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, DFAIT. DFAIT plays an active role in this process by providing clear departmental positions with respect to the human rights practices of a specific regime and by providing an assessment of the international impact. Where appropriate, immigration headquarters recommends to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration whether a regime should be designated under paragraph 19(1)( l ) of the Immigration Act.

In 1994, CIC requested the opinion of the minister regarding the human rights record of the former Marxist regime in Afghanistan, 1978-1992, for the purposes of designating it under paragraph 19(1)( l ). The Marxist regime was described as one which was engaged in terrorism, systematic or gross human rights violations, war crimes or crimes against humanity within the meaning of the Criminal Code of Canada. One of its leaders, Dr. Najibullah, had formerly been head of the Afghani Information Police, KHAD, whose agents routinely and savagely administered torture during interrogations of prisoners. Officials from Foreign Affairs were consulted and they concurred with the recommendation to designate. The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration subsequently designated the former Marxist regime in Afghanistan under paragraph 19(1)( l ).

Question No. 107—

[Mi'Kmaq Education Act, June 10th, 1998]

moved that Bill C-30, an act respecting the powers of the Mi'kmaq of Nova Scotia in relation to education, be read the third time and passed.