Elinor Caplan

[Immigration, April 10th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to clarify for the member and for anyone who is concerned that in the regulations the definition of family class will include both parents and grandparents.

Further, it is our intention to see the family class expanded. I would also point out that in the existing Immigration Act the definition of family class is included in the regulations. Let me assure everyone that parents and grandparents will continue to be included in the family class.

[Immigration, April 7th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I was pleased and proud to have the privilege and opportunity to table yesterday the new immigration and refugee protection act, Bill C-31. I want to assure the member that the government takes very seriously the best interests of children. That is enshrined in the legislation and the act states very clearly, and I would point him to clause 26.2, that the immigration bill that I tabled in no way requires an immigration student authorization for children to attend primary, elementary or secondary school. Education is provincial jurisdiction—

[Immigration And Refugee Protection Act, April 6th, 2000]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-31, an act respecting immigration to Canada and the granting of refugee protection to persons who are displaced, persecuted or in danger.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[Citizenship Of Canada Act, March 23rd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have had the opportunity to be in the House today to listen to my critic, the member for Compton—Stanstead, as well as the member for Winnipeg Centre.

While I would say that I do not agree with everything they had to say, and I know they are not surprised to hear that, I wanted to take a moment to thank the member for Compton—Stanstead for acknowledging the hard work of the high commission and immigration officers.

I would also acknowledge the fact that I too had a chance to sit in on interviews in our posts abroad and I know the dedication of the staff. I think it was very important for that to be acknowledged in the House.

The hon. member made one point that I would like to comment on, and that is the fact that he has been waiting for a new immigration and refugee protection bill. He said that the Citizenship Act was not as important as the other and wondered why he had not yet seen an immigration bill.

I point out to him that the government has said that a new immigration act is a priority. A white paper was issued in January 1999. More than that, as a member of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, he would know that the committee tabled its report yesterday. I want to point out to him that I have been anxiously awaiting that report, because the committee's work in this area has been extremely important in helping to define the policy.

I understand that the member opposite made important and valuable contributions during the work of the committee on that report, and I want to assure him and all members of the House that I will be taking into consideration the recommendations of the committee in the development of a new bill, which I hope to see tabled in the House as soon as possible.

I agree that citizenship is at the heart of what it means to be a Canadian, and Bill C-16 is a very important bill to Canadians and to future Canadians.

I am pleased to comment on the members' speeches and to acknowledge the expertise and interest which they have had in this very important issue concerning citizenship and immigration and refugee policy.

The member for Winnipeg Centre, the member for Compton—Stanstead, the member for Rosemont and even my critic from the Reform Party play a very important role on the committee, as does my parliamentary secretary and the other members. I appreciate their advice and I look forward to being at committee to defend Bill C-16 in the very near future, as soon as the House sees fit to send it to committee.

I have been listening very carefully to the debate. We will take into consideration the representations made by all of those who have taken the opportunity to speak to the bill and we will look very carefully at the representations of others when we are at committee. I expect the committee will hear witnesses.

It has been a long road for Bill C-16 and its predecessor Bill C-63. It is very important that this bill proceed. I am pleased to stand in my place today to acknowledge the important work that has been done on this bill. I hope to see it become a reality soon.

[Citizenship And Immigration, March 16th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I want to assure the member that the first I heard about this was when I read about it in the newspaper. It is federal government policy that immigrant children should not be charged the right of landing fee.

Furthermore, once the new citizenship bill is passed, foreign-born children who are lucky enough to be adopted by Canadian parents will enter Canada as citizens.

Furthermore, I guess I would have to say that first Premier Harris picked on welfare moms, then squeegee kids and now it is foreign orphans. I hope he will reconsider this policy.

[Questions On The Order Paper, March 13th, 2000]

With regard to each of the groups consulted by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration during the period from February 27, 1998 through to March 11, 1998, the following received contribution funds (Citizenship and Immigration Canada CIC does not provide grants or subsidies to organizations) in fiscal year 1997-98* under one or more of CIC's settlement programs or services: immigrant settlement and adaptation program, ISAP, which provides a variety of settlement services to immigrants, such as orientation, community information, interpretation/translation, para-professional counselling, employment related sevices; language instruction for newcomers to Canada, LINC, which provides traning in one of Canada's official languages to adult immigrants; the host program which matches immigrants to Canadians who help them with various aspects of life in Canada; and reception house, RH, which provides temporary accommodation to government assisted refugees.

Organizations in Quebec do not receive contribution funds from CIC. As per the Canada-Quebec accord, the province of Quebec assumes responsibility for providing settlement services.

*Contribution agreements are signed for a total amount which covers the duration fo the agreement. As the period of time for which the funding information was requested does not coincide with the periods covered by the contribution agreements, we are unable to give dollar figures for the exact period requested by the hon. member.

[Immigration, February 28th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I listened very carefully to the question. I would invite the member to be here at 4 o'clock when the budget is read. He and I both know that is the time when his question will be answered.

[Citizenship And Immigration, February 28th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, this issue is very dear to my heart. I firmly believe that no child should be denied an education.

I have reviewed the regulations which require school authorization for post-secondary and vocational schools. I am convinced that there is no barrier there to any child in Canada whether they have been here for 10 minutes, 10 months or 10 years.

If that is not clear enough, I want to say again that I do not think any kid should be denied an education. I intend to continue to clarify that at every opportunity.

[Immigration, February 17th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I first learned about this situation from the newspaper. I got the facts and I picked up the phone and called Cancer Care Ontario because I was concerned that we in immigration could do our part to ensure that Ontario had the human resources necessary to deliver cancer care to people. I did not play politics like Mike Harris; I picked up the phone.

This problem is the result of the cuts that he made to the program. Notwithstanding that, all he had to do, all the minister of health had to do and all the minister of citizenship and immigration for Ontario had to do was to call to ask for my help. I would have done everything I could. They did not call and I was very—

[Immigration, February 8th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member and I share her concerns. In fact, we have zero tolerance policy when it comes to foreign nationals who commit serious crimes in Canada. Foreign nationals who have committed crimes outside of Canada are inadmissible to Canada. Further, the public safety of Canadians is our number one priority.

Having said that, the refugee determination system is about saving lives. Canada is an open and compassionate society. Yes, at the present time we are reviewing our legislation and our regulations to determine that it is appropriate to meet these challenges.