House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2025, with 55% of the vote.
Business of Supply May 24th, 2018
Madam Chair, the government is committed to ensuring the integrity of the Canadian asylum system and ensuring that decisions have consequences. To that end, we are making removals of failed claimants a priority. That is why we made an investment of $173.2 million for border security operations, faster processing at the IRB, and more investments in the CBSA. It was so that removals can be done faster.
Business of Supply May 24th, 2018
Madam Chair, the government has invested $173.2 million in budget 2018 to support security operations at the border. This includes $74 million that is being invested as part of budget 2018 into the Immigration and Refugee Board for faster processing of asylum claims so that those who require protection get to stay in Canada, move on with their lives, and contribute back to Canadian society, and those who are not legitimate refugees and who do not have a legitimate claim for refugee protection are removed from Canada.
Our record on investing in border security operations is clear. The Conservatives cut border operations by $390 million.
Business of Supply May 24th, 2018
Madam Chair, again I want to emphasize, despite the assertions of the member opposite, that each and every individual who crosses our border irregularly is immediately arrested and undergoes extensive background screening for national security and safety risks. No one is released into our communities until security checks are completed. If someone is found to pose a risk to our society, they are detained and deported and cannot submit an asylum claim.
While some are engaging in irresponsible fearmongering, the fact is that every asylum claimant is carefully screened and threats are effectively detected.
Business of Supply May 24th, 2018
Madam Chair, I hope the member opposite is not questioning the professionalism or the effectiveness of our security services when he speaks about them using Google searches.
Our number one priority is safeguarding the security and safety of Canadians in collaboration with our security partners. IRCC uses tools such as biometrics, international databases, and in-person interviews to ensure the safety and security of Canadians.
Business of Supply May 24th, 2018
Madam Chair, this is completely inaccurate. Each and every irregular migrant entering Canada is immediately arrested and undergoes extensive background screening for national security, criminal, and safety risks. No one is released into our communities until security checks are completed. If it is determined that someone poses a risk, that person is detained and deported and cannot submit an asylum claim.
Business of Supply May 24th, 2018
Madam Chair, we as a country are proud of using immigration as a great tool for economic growth, but we also have a place in our hearts for humanitarian immigration that allows those who are fleeing persecution, war, and terrorism to seek sanctuary and safety in Canada. That is part of who we are and part of our Canadian tradition.
Business of Supply May 24th, 2018
Mr. Chair, IRCC's social media audience of over two million people is helping us expand the reach of our message. Facebook posts have driven most of the engagement with our content. Content has been viewed 2.1 million times, and it has been shared 3,000 times. It has driven 16,000 visits to our website.
Targeted messaging and advertising for the messaging by IRCC on irregular migration have been seen over 1.6 million times by those in the United States who are actively searching for asylum information, with 28% of IRCC website visits from the advertising campaign effectively resulting in users accessing additional information in the form of videos, infographics, audio messages, and additional web content. The 12 videos that IRCC produced in English, French, Creole, and Spanish have been viewed over 200,000 times.
Business of Supply May 24th, 2018
Mr. Chair, the member opposite's assertion that the Conservatives welcome immigration would have been believable if they had not left us with massive backlogs and long wait times for immigration.
The member opposite's claim that he cares about U.S.-Canada border operations would have been believable if the party opposite had not cut $390 million from border security operations, therefore jeopardizing the ability of CBSA to enforce Canadian laws at the border.
We have made the necessary investments in border security operations and faster processing of refugee claims at the Immigration and Refugee Board. As part of budget 2018, we have made investments to the tune of $173.2 million.
Business of Supply May 24th, 2018
Mr. Chair, I will provide the member opposite with a statistic. In 2008, 30,000 people came to Canada to claim asylum. That is a fact.
The fact of the matter is that Canada is not immune to global migration patterns. That is a fact. The fact is that we have international obligations to provide fair hearings and due process to asylum seekers. Those who are found to have a legitimate claim for refugee status get to stay in Canada, and those who are found not to have a legitimate claim for refugee protection are removed from Canada. That is our law, and the law is being implemented and respected throughout this process.
Business of Supply May 24th, 2018
Mr. Chair, the member opposite, in his previous question, spoke about his support for regular migration. I would urge the member opposite, in the effort to do that, not to muddy the waters by talking about fictional queue-jumping that does not exist.
One stream of immigration deals with refugee claimants through the Immigration and Refugee Board, and the other stream deals with everything else in the immigration system through IRCC. That is a fact. The member opposite can keep repeating that assertion, but it is simply not true.
The fact of the matter is that we have made the necessary investments in more border security operations and faster processing of asylum claims at the Immigration and Refugee Board. We are meeting our international obligations. We have a very aggressive and effective outreach strategy to make sure that diaspora communities and non-governmental organizations, as well as community media, are informed about our immigration system.