Sergio Marchi

[Canada Customs, January 26th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, not only have we also read the same article but the officials of my department as well as the department of revenue have been seized with an opinion from the justice department, which we respect, concerning the letter of the law.

Let me say quite clearly that despite the fact that we respect the law, the impact of the circumstances is clearly unacceptable to me and to my officials. I will seek, hopefully with the co-operation of his party as well, among the officials of justice, revenue and immigration at the earliest possible moment amendments to both the customs and immigration acts so we can protect Canadian borders to the fullest. In the meantime we will work within the law to ensure that protection.

I might add to my answer to the member's question that any one individual caught crossing the border with fraudulent documentation, be it visa or passport, certainly is apprehended and charged.

[Human Rights, January 26th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, concerning El Salvador, it is the immigration refugee board that has the full right to make a determination on who is not and who is a refugee. It is true that individuals from the Republic of China and Iraq are not returned.

We have information, from external affairs, from our mission in El Salvador and from the UNHCR, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, that individuals are being returned to El Salvador.

Yes, there has been increased sporadic violence in the lead-up to the March elections. Our officials are monitoring the situation. If the situation deteriorates to the point that we believe it is unfair, unhelpful and dangerous to return those individuals to that country we will not fear on this side to make that determination.

[Human Rights, January 26th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his question and to congratulate him on having been chosen by his party to be critic for citizenship and immigration.

In regard to the 30 or 50 individuals from El Salvador, I should mention a fact that he knows and appreciates I am sure, the privacy laws prevent me from going into the specific details.

These individuals went through a refugee board determination hearing, had full appeal to the Federal Court, have had reviews conducted. They wrote my office seeking a meeting and officials in my department are currently in the process of meeting with these individuals in Montreal-they just provided us with the names a few days ago-in order to receive the proposal they wish to make to us.