Marc Miller

[Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, June 6th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, the member will have to wait until Monday to get an answer to that question, just like everyone else. The party that is doing nothing is the Bloc Québécois. For six months it has been asking for asylum claims to be fast-tracked. Yesterday, the geniuses in that party rose in the Standing Committee on Finance to oppose the measures to streamline the asylum system. It is shameful and utterly incoherent. Their ignorance knows no bounds.

[Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, June 6th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, as I said very clearly, we have invested $5.2 billion in Quebec since 2015. We have not asked for any accountability. Maybe Quebeckers need to ask more questions about this. It is also very, very, very clear that we are making an extra effort, and that is because the woman who was quoted in the newspaper article is right. We need to better coordinate the distribution of asylum seekers across Canada. That is what we are doing. I just wrapped up a meeting about this very issue half an hour ago.

[Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, June 6th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I have met with many organizations in Montreal that do their best to welcome asylum seekers. They frequently tell me that they do not receive much money from Quebec, despite the fact that we have handed $5.2 billion over to Quebec since 2015.

It is clear that extra effort is needed. That is what we have done by meeting with our counterparts. I just had a meeting with my provincial colleagues. The work will continue.

[Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, June 5th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the entire opposition opposed our asylum system reforms, which are designed to speed things up. I think this is ridiculous. The Bloc Québécois should take responsibility. We are talking about light blue and dark blue, but it is pretty much the same thing.

With regard to Monday's meeting, the member will have to wait until Monday.

[Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, June 5th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I know that the Bloc Québécois wants to fast-track asylum claims. However, the height of hypocrisy was when a Bloc member spoke during a meeting of the Standing Committee on Finance to oppose the government's proposed reforms for fast-tracking asylum claims.

I know that the Premier of Quebec thinks that the Bloc Québécois is useless. I do not share that opinion, but I am becoming less sure.

[Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, June 4th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, several weeks ago, the member across the way claimed that it took six, seven or eight months, I no longer remember how long. People are not entitled to a work permit before three months. We are doing our best to give them one.

Obviously, money earned can go a long way. It is clear that we can do better. It is clear that we want to do better. Obviously, in light of the record number of claims, we are going to need the support of the provinces, including Quebec. I very much welcome that support.

[Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, June 4th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member opposite for his very fair question.

It is true that Canada, like many other countries, is facing a record number of asylum claims. This year is another one for the record books. That does not mean we are not taking things seriously. On the contrary, we are stepping up our efforts to ensure that the people who come here, fleeing war and violence, are well received and properly supported. We need Quebec's support.

I want to point out how important it is that the Bloc Québécois continue to advocate to ensure that asylum seekers are welcomed in Quebec and Canada.

[Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, May 30th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, again, he is going to blame immigrants for rising food prices. Come on, we have to be reasonable.

It is clear that Canada is going to play a role, and it must bear some responsibility in all this. That is why we are working closely with Quebec to send asylum seekers to other provinces. There is work to be done at several levels. It is a job I look forward to working on with Ms. Fréchette.

[Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, May 30th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, once again, it appears that the member opposite is asking the question of the wrong legislature.

It should be noted that under the Canada-Quebec agreement, Quebec holds the majority of the power to select francophone immigrants. It has the power and the ability to do so. Considering the $5.2 billion it has received in transfers since 2015, it also has the financial capacity to do it all and without accountability, either.

When it comes to accountability, Quebeckers are the ones who need to demand answers.

[Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, May 30th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, that is precisely what we are doing in the task force with Minister Fréchette and other provincial ministers. The member across the way seems to forget that Bill 101 has been around for a long time. He also seems to forget that we have been transferring $5.2 billion since 2015 to Quebec, without accountability, for francization.

Obviously, if Quebec needs more francophone immigrants, we are here to help.