Chris Alexander

[Citizenship and Immigration, November 3rd, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, Canada, like many of its partners, a huge number of partners in the international community, is absolutely committed to the international effort to contain the Ebola outbreak. That is why we announced new precautionary measures to make sure that we keep Canadians healthy and safe during this time of increased risk.

Permanent resident visas will not be issued by visa officers unless and until they can prove that the candidates have been outside of Ebola-affected countries, those countries most affected, for three months or more. We will not issue new visas to those who represent a public health risk to Canada.

[Citizenship and Immigration, November 3rd, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, on our side of the House it is not among basic Canadian values to offer health care—often health care that went beyond that provided to Canadians—to those whose immigration and refugee claims have failed or to those who were deliberately fraudulent in their representations to the Immigration and Refugee Board. We will continue to stand up for the interests of taxpayers in that respect.

At the same time, we are disappointed in these decisions. We are continuing our appeal and will announce the details of our reaction to the latest decision very shortly.

[Citizenship and Immigration, November 3rd, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, that is not true. Refugees continue to have the same quality of health care as Canadians. We are disappointed with the court's decision. We will appeal and we will announce the details of our response to the court's decision soon.

[Citizenship and Immigration, November 3rd, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, we are still disappointed with the court's decision. For that reason we are going to appeal. We will continue to protect the interests of refugees and Canadian taxpayers, and we will soon announce the details of our response to this decision.

[Citizenship and Immigration, October 30th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the interim federal health program continues to serve refugees extremely well. We were disappointed by the Federal Court's decision on July 4, and that is why we have gone into appeal. We await the court's decision.

We will continue to uphold and defend the rights of refugees as well as the interests of Canadian taxpayers.

[Citizenship and Immigration, October 30th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, yes, we were disappointed by the court's decision last summer. That is why we are appealing it. We are going to continue to protect the well-founded interests of refugees and the interests of Canadian taxpayers as well.

[Public Safety, October 29th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the truth is that ISIL is conducting a campaign of unspeakable atrocities that represents a threat to the people of Iraq and Syria as well as Canada. In response to this threat, this government has introduced Bill C-44, which would strengthen the hand of our security agencies. We have passed the Combating Terrorism Act and we have introduced Canada's first strategy to address terrorism in all its forms.

It is the responsibility of all of us in the House to protect Canadians and defend our citizens.

[Citizenship and Immigration, October 29th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the rules that apply to refugees and asylum seekers are not going to change because of any measures in this bill.

Why do the Liberals insist on talking about this measure and not all the other budget measures we have taken to make Canada's middle class the strongest in the world, as indicated in The New York Times study? This is thanks to successive Conservative budgets and our economic policy, which is why we are so proud of this budget and the measures in this bill.

[Citizenship and Immigration, October 28th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, instead, the member should stop spewing this completely false rhetoric.

We are simply establishing minimum residency requirements for people other than refugees, if the provinces and territories wish to use them. It is a provincial jurisdiction. We respect that. The provinces will continue to set the ground rules for social assistance.

[Citizenship and Immigration, October 28th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, on a day when the House is, for the most part, given over to non-partisan commemoration of one of our fallen soldiers, it would be nice if the NDP did not spread utter misinformation about the nature of the bill.

Refugees are absolutely unaffected by the measures in the bill. We are simply establishing the authority for provinces to have a minimum residence time in the country for categories of persons, not including refugees, should they wish to use it. It is a provincial jurisdiction. We respect that.