Denis Coderre

[Immigration, April 30th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I think that we should explain what is meant by a country which operates under the rule of law.

People who come to Canada and, with due diligence, apply for refugee status must appear before a judge. We have a quasi-judicial tribunal. There is a procedure to follow. We have new regulations allowing us to send a person back if they pose a threat to the security of our country. That is why we have new regulations.

But we are not going to start being both judge and jury. Our country operates under the rule of law and we respect that law.

[Immigration, April 30th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, have they ever heard of transit? People do enter through transit.

I do not see the member's point. This country is dedicated to refugees. We do not have categories of refugees. If the people want to get in, we are signatories to the convention. If the members are against it, maybe they should change their own policy. They should look in their own mirror.

[Immigration, April 30th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, what is even worse is that the member does not want to let them in. We are both saying the same thing. If people are crossing the border or arriving at our airports, we have a duty to give them due process because we are signatories to the convention.

Is that party's new policy that it wants more refugees now? Maybe it is another flip-flop. I do not mind but it is not the point. The point is that we want to fulfill our duty. What will happen to the people who have been persecuted and are crossing the border? Does it mean that we say no to those people who cross the border? That is nonsense.

[Immigration, April 30th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the member is telling us that legitimate refugees are only people who we picked up, that everyone crossing our borders or arriving at our airports are not legitimate. He should be ashamed of himself.

[Immigration, April 30th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, there are more than 7,300 refugees whom we have chosen ourselves in refugee camps, such as in Nairobi.

We are a country which operates under the rule of law. As such, we chose to sign the UN refugee convention. When a mother with her children desperately seeks entry to the country and applies for refugee status, we on this side of the House do not send her back. We take the necessary measures to see if we can keep her.

[Immigration, April 30th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I do not know what the hon. member means. We are doing that already.

All we are saying is that most of the people claiming refugee status come from the United States. That is why we are negotiating a safe third country agreement.

We have immigration control agents all over the world. For the last six years we have prevented 45,000 undocumented people from getting into Canada.

We have done this. We are working on both fronts, but Canada has a responsibility. This responsibility is to fulfill its international obligations, and we will do this.

[Immigration, April 30th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, there are two things. First, we need to do this in order to fulfill our international duties to negotiate a safer country. This is about people and we want to make sure we do not make any mistakes regarding that.

Second, of course we can make our own decision but, because we are signing that international duty, everybody seeking to become a refugee has the right to due process. We will fulfill that. I would rather be on my side.

[Immigration, April 30th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, some of them have American visas too. The question is not, should we let them go? The question is, right now we are putting in place a new system, we are screening it, and we have that priority for security, to secure the Canadian people, but at the same time we have to fulfill our international duty.

The member is telling us that Canada should lose its reputation because he feels that all refugees are dishonest and are terrorists. I do not think that.

[Immigration, April 30th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, there are two things. First, regarding the immigration consultants, we agree and I will have a plan of action. We are working right now to regulate immigration consultants. Second, we have to be very careful. What would we do with a lady and her children at the border? Do we shut the door and say we do not want to see them here? We have an international duty. I think we have to be very careful about the kinds of things we are saying today.

[Immigration, April 30th, 2002]

First, Mr. Speaker, there was no question. I am very proud to be a part of the government because not only do we believe that the nation is built on immigration, but we never make any linkage between refugees and immigrants as being a bunch of terrorists, like they are doing. We do not want to shut down the border because we believe this is a country of hope, a country of tolerance and a country of liberty.

If the shoe fits, wear it.