moved that Bill C-14, an act to provide borrowing authority for the fiscal year beginning on April 1, 1994, be read the second time and referred to a committee.
House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 1997, with 74% of the vote.
Borrowing Authority Act, 1994-95 February 25th, 1994
moved that Bill C-14, an act to provide borrowing authority for the fiscal year beginning on April 1, 1994, be read the second time and referred to a committee.
Governor General February 24th, 1994
They just froze it for goodness sake.
Governor General February 24th, 1994
There's the wild thing. Those westerners are expensive.
Immigration February 22nd, 1994
Mr. Speaker, we said no such thing. In fact in our levels announcement some days ago we said it was very important not only to do levels in isolation but to do levels and have a correlated two-year settlement and integration in dollars. That was a very important distinction the former government did not pay too much attention to.
We are worried about the financial implications to our health system. However we are not prepared to conclude that family class members who are landed should not have access to medical services when independent skills applicants do. Is that what the member is advocating? When people come here and are landed residents we assume they contribute and through their contribution they have a contract with Canada. It is a two-way street.
Immigration February 22nd, 1994
Mr. Speaker, this party mentioned in its red book and Canadians accepted it democratically by the national election that one of the building blocks of immigration policy is the family class.
There are two reasons. First, we believe Canadians do have a right toward family reunification. Second, the family is also the vehicle to more successfully integrate and settle the newcomer without burdening the state.
The hon. member's party quite often talks about family values. If the hon. member wants to cut the immigration levels he cannot have it both ways. He cannot talk on family values on the one hand and then berate family class immigration on the other.
Immigration February 22nd, 1994
Mr. Speaker, the member is making a silly argument. I just finished saying that all landed residents now receive a form.
I am sure Canadians and immigrants understand we are trying to stop fraudulent duplication and to prevent those who so wish from illegally obtaining those cards. It also offers the prospective landed immigrant an ID card. We will not be able to access anybody's dirty laundry through this form. We are simply trying to make it better for those who use it and difficult for those who want to abuse it.
Immigration February 22nd, 1994
Mr. Speaker, the ID card is not new. It was made public last summer to NGOs and lawyers. The ID card simply replaces the large piece of paper all immigrants are given once they are landed.
There are two reasons we are replacing the big piece of paper by the small card. First, the big piece of paper can be forged and is easily duplicated. It is being sold at high cost on the black market. The small card is a state of the art technique and will certainly minimize that kind of fraudulent activity.
The second reason is that many landed residents have requested small cards for their wallets to be used as ID cards until they receive citizenship cards. Therefore it also has that practical application which was asked for by the very people who will be carrying them.
There is nothing untoward. Nothing more can be accessed than what normally can from our normal passports. Is the member also suggesting we not have passports?
Refugees February 17th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, this government has moved very swiftly to try to deal with the concerns of Canadians in terms of ameliorating the Immigration Refugee Board. In fact, we moved on appointments that spoke to quality of experience and expertise. That was in fact concurred in by the press secretary to his leader who stated that finally these appointments are in the right direction.
Second, we also have reviews under way that are going to balance the whole question of tolerance with the question of criminality. The member should be cautioned not to inflate and inflame the situation, that it is out of control and that somehow criminals are certainly in the majority. That simply and factually is incorrect.
Third, immigration officials did airlift this individual. It is the Federal Court that through this individual's appeal granted a rehearing. That is simply the law of the land.
I would ask this member to work within the law. If he is advocating a change in the law, that is another question.
Refugees February 17th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his question. I have discussed this case with him.
Concerning this case of the refugee claimant who was denied refugee status, it was the feeling of my officials that the individual posed a threat to the Canadian community. Therefore the immigration officials had this individual flown back and deported to Peru right away.
Subsequent to that, the individual's lawyer appealed the case to the Federal Court of Canada. It was the Federal Court that ordered a new appeal hearing in front of the Immigration Refugee Board. There is something called due process, and therefore immigration was simply obeying the Federal Court, which is the law of the land.
Immigration February 15th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his question and interest in this area.
In addition to our peacekeeping role which is well known to all in this Chamber, Canada has attempted to do its best through immigration and refugee policies to try to alleviate the suffering in that area.
In 1992 the previous government extended a special program whereby individuals from the former republic of Yugoslavia in Canada on visitors visas would be allowed to reunify with their families. We have agreed to extend that program until July of this year. Some 3,000 individuals have taken advantage of that measure. In addition, we have also permitted on a similar family reunification basis for individuals in the former republic of Yugoslavia to apply from there and some 8,500 people have taken advantage of that program.
Also, in the levels that we have announced, 7,300 will be government sponsored refugees. Of that we have increased the number from the former republic of Yugoslavia to 2,400. We have also provided a reserve of 400 that we would not for one moment be shy to use if conditions worsen in that part of the world.
We have every hope that sanity will prevail very quickly.