Lucienne Robillard

[War Criminals, October 3rd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, let me to correct the facts. The statement was not made by a committee appointed by the minister. It is found in a report written by an officer to his director. The officer is a member of the department's war crimes section.

This shows that we do have a departmental war crimes section, where an inventory of about 300 suspected people was made, and I emphasize the word “suspected”.

[Immigration, October 3rd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, the Reform Party critic should not perpetuate myths in this country. We are not talking about illegal immigrants, but about refugee claimants.

That being said, we take very seriously all cases of persons suspected of contemporary war crimes who try to enter this country. I can say that Canada is one of the leaders on the international scene for its success in preventing these people from getting access to the system that confers refugee status, and in deporting them.

When we compare our system with those in the United States, France or Great Britain—

[Immigration, October 3rd, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, first I would like to correct the facts and figures provided by the opposition critic. First, when we are talking about 38,000 individuals, these are not illegal immigrants but people who are seeking refugee status.

Second, the 300 people who are suspected of committing war crimes or crimes against humanity are only suspects; they have not been convicted by the system.

When reports are made by my department, this proves there is a strong interest in these questions and that in the department—

[Algeria, October 1st, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, family reunification for all immigrants who have already come to Canada is a departmental priority and it goes without saying that all these cases will receive priority treatment from the Department of Citizenship and Immigration.

[Immigration, September 29th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, it is very clear that anyone who misrepresents his identity or his reasons for coming to Canada can be prosecuted by the Department of Citizenship and Immigration.

As for the case raised by the opposition member, you are well aware that, under the Privacy Act, I cannot discuss this case publicly. The individual in question has not yet been formally charged.

[Immigration, September 25th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member of the Reform Party is so proud to welcome immigrants to Canada, he should not really be continuing to try to create myths about immigration. That is just what he is doing with this sort of question and it is unacceptable.

I repeat. In the case of those who abuse the system, who come here illegally, we try to have official agreements with foreign governments so they will take back their nationals who are here illegally. This is the case with Vietnam, China and other countries.

[Immigration, September 25th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, what I can confirm officially is that annually in Canada we have over 200,000 immigrants who will become Canadian citizens and whom we are very proud to welcome. That is the federal system.

Clearly, however, there are always people in life who try to abuse the system, and we have the tools necessary to deport and return to their country those who try to abuse the system. This is the case in a number of countries.

[Vedran Smailovic, April 24th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, again, I will set the member for Bourassa straight. The minister has no discretionary powers to publicly reveal private information. Therefore, I shall not discuss this case in public.

[Vedran Smailovic, April 24th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, if the member for Bourassa has not yet understood our immigration laws since 1993, we have a serious problem here. He is fully aware that the Privacy Act prohibits any public discussion of a particular case.

[Immigration, April 21st, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that on May 1 citizens of Portugal will no longer be required to obtain a visitor's visas to visit Canada.

We all know the Portuguese community has contributed enormously to the social and economic development of the country. We hope the decision of visa free access will improve business, economic and cultural exchanges, as well as promote tourism between the two countries.