Sarkis Assadourian

[Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, November 3rd, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the hon. member would comment. We did not reach our 1% target in the last few years although that is the Liberal policy, but how would the bill help us to achieve that target without regulating this? Also, how can the government reach that target without making it difficult for society to absorb new Canadians? If we cannot do it with 225,000 because of, as my colleague said, limitations on funding, how does she expect us to do such a thing in a massive way?

[Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, November 3rd, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I was following the hon. member's speech very carefully. As a member of the immigration and citizenship committee, she works very hard on this issue.

Basically I think the concept is a very good idea, but the problem is in the details. As the expression goes, the devil is in the details.

Based on her proposal, I wonder if the hon. member could inform us of what she thinks is the maximum capacity of immigrants we are ready to absorb in the country. Would it be 100,000, 200,000 or 500,000 a year? What impact would that have on our society as a whole? I do not think we have enough capacity in the system to absorb and integrate the potential millions who may come to Canada. If we accept this rule, that is a possibility we have to face. We have to address that issue.

[Canadian Forces, October 31st, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the Invisible Ribbon Campaign is a public grassroots demonstration of support for the families of military personnel.

This campaign helps reaffirm pride in the military and lets our men and women in uniform and those closest to them know that Canadians recognize and support their vital contribution to Canada.

The invisible ribbons also underscore that families of military members are as committed to the military way of life as are the personnel who wear the uniform. This is especially true today as we have almost 3,800 Canadian Forces members deployed around the world on peacekeeping missions.

I hope all members of the House and indeed all Canadians will join me in wearing an invisible ribbon to demonstrate that we very much appreciate military personnel and their families for a job well done.

[Ramadan, October 27th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to mark the beginning of the month long fast in which Muslims from all over the world will abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset. I would like to wish all Muslims in Canada a Ramadan Mubarak.

Ramadan presents an opportunity for Canadians to learn more about each other. It is an opportunity to learn more about Islam and about the Muslim community in Canada.

Canadians are committed to nurturing and cherishing our diversity. We share a vision of a country where diverse backgrounds of all citizens are recognized and appreciated.

I truly hope all Canadians will share in the spirit of this holy month. Let us make Ramadan a month of reaching out and understanding for all Canadians.

[Petitions, October 20th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the third petition asks that Parliament encourage adult stem cell research to prevent sickness and diseases suffered by many Canadians throughout the country.

[Petitions, October 20th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, my second petition asks the House to recognize and protect all children from suffering under pedophilia and that all activities involving pedophilia be outlawed.

[Petitions, October 20th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present three petitions from Brampton Centre. The first petition calls upon the House to recognize marriage as the union of a man and a women to the exclusion of all others.

[Immigration, October 10th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, as my hon. member knows, the Government of Canada and CIC follow the exact procedures set by the House of Commons whenever we have the obligation to do it. We do a very good job.

[Citizenship and Immigration, October 10th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to see that the government's response to a report from the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration on the provincial nominee program agrees with a vast majority of the recommendations made by the committee.

The committee's report was positive about the program in general and identified it as an important tool in encouraging the settlement of immigrants across the country.

We on this side of the House are committed to ensuring that all Canadians in every region benefit from immigration, both today and in the years ahead.

The government therefore shares the committee's enthusiasm for the expansion of the provincial nominee program across the country, according to the availability of existing resources and the ability of other levels of government to participate in this wonderful project.

[Zahra Kazemi, October 1st, 2003]

moved:

That this House unanimously call on the Government of Iran to exhume and return to Canada the body of the late Zahra Kazemi, the Iranian-Canadian photojournalist.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues and the government House leader for accepting this motion unanimously.

A few months ago Canadian citizen Ms. Zahra Kazemi was arrested in Iran and killed soon after that. Iranian authorities have accepted responsibility. They have already charged an Iranian security officer for the crime that person committed against a Canadian citizen.

I would also like to thank the Iranian government for its cooperation. I look forward to full cooperation from the authorities in returning the body of Ms. Kazemi as soon as possible to her son. Canadians all across the country are waiting for her body to be returned so they can celebrate the end of what has been a difficult period for us as Canadians and for the family of Ms. Kazemi.

I thank all members of the House for making this motion unanimous.