John McCallum

[Business of Supply, December 9th, 2015]

Mr. Chair, I think the member is unnecessarily suspicious of the private sector. My first reaction is gratitude when the private sector offers to provide free or subsidized housing. I think she should also be grateful to the private sector for coming forward in this way.

Any kind of contractual arrangements will be dealt with. In large measure, the refugees have not arrived yet. The companies have made a very generous offer, and the details will be worked out with them. However, the primary reaction, from me at least, and from the government, is to thank the private sector very much for its help.

[Business of Supply, December 9th, 2015]

As I indicated earlier, Mr. Chair, the total amount that the federal government is putting on the table is just under $700 million. It is obvious that this is a national project, and the costs should be shared with the private sector and other levels of government.

I am extremely encouraged at the response to date in the private sector. Many people have come back already to provide free or subsidized lodging, and I am confident that there will be many more. It will be a great national effort, including not only government, but private sector as well.

[Business of Supply, December 9th, 2015]

Mr. Chair, there is $34.5 million for resettlement assistance program to provide 12 months of income support for clients whose income is insufficient to provide for their needs and/or the needs of their dependants.

[Business of Supply, December 9th, 2015]

Mr. Chair, with regard to the cost of waiving the immigration loan program, I do not have that number, but I will get back to the hon. member with it as soon as I can.

[Business of Supply, December 9th, 2015]

Mr. Chair, I am not sure which costs the member is referring to. If it is the total costs of the whole initiative, the number is just under $700 million. If she is referring to the cost of my department, the total cost of my department would be $278 million. If she is talking about the settlement and community integration costs, it is $108 million. If she can tell us what costs she is referring to, I will try to answer.

[Business of Supply, December 9th, 2015]

Indeed they are, Mr. Chair.

[Business of Supply, December 9th, 2015]

Mr. Chair, that is not at all what I am suggesting. However, the costs are much less than the costs associated with the government-assisted refugees.

[Business of Supply, December 9th, 2015]

Mr. Chair, if the hon. member does not listen, then she will be confused. The number of government-sponsored refugees is fixed at 25,000, and we have 10,000 coming in that are private. That is a minimum of 35,000, which is fixed. Where it is between 35,000 and 50,000 depends on a cabinet decision still to be taken, but there is absolute clarity in terms of what I just said.

[Business of Supply, December 9th, 2015]

Mr. Chair, in the first place, those two numbers are not inconsistent with each other.

I said a range of 35,000 to 50,000 refugees; the number of 35,000 is the minimum, and the actual number is yet to be determined by cabinet.

[Business of Supply, December 9th, 2015]

Mr. Chair, my apologies for the delay, but my colleague did a really good job, and I was greeting 50 children with cards for the new refugees.

In terms of the hon. member's question, I must have missed it; I was changing seats. Could the hon. member perhaps ask it again?