Citizenship and Immigration committee  Under the Conservatives, the Iranian nationals were waiting twice as long as other nationalities for processing—

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship  The party opposite is intent on getting away from the record that it has, but facts are stubborn things and the Conservatives cannot get away from that record. The fact is that we are reinvesting in the border, and we are reinvesting in the Immigration and Refugee Board. To make sure that the refugee system works, we are making sure that the vacancies left behind by the previous government—

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship  Speaker, the fact of the matter is that, due to the half-baked measures introduced by the Harper Conservatives, the IRB developed a backlog of 32,000 refugee cases. We promised that we would do better for those people, some of whom had been waiting for a hearing for as long as eight years.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship  Speaker, we have done a lot to make sure that we have reduced the processing times for parents and grandparents to be reunited, from seven years to under 20 months, making sure that we have increased the spaces available for Canadians to sponsor their parents and grandparents, from 5,000 spots under the Conservatives to more than 20,000 spots under our government. We will continue to be ambitious in that regard and listen to Canadians to further improve the process.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship  Our government is introducing a program that will provide a faster path for permanent residency, better protections against abuse, and for the first time, we will allow caregivers to bring their own spouses and children with them. Our government has eliminated the caregiver backlog left behind by the Conservatives, from five years to 12 months. We will always stand for family reunification.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  It's an independent system, and to suggest that the Conservatives actually care about refugees is laughable.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship  Mr. Speaker, the facts speak for themselves. This is the Conservative position on parents and grandparents. The Conservatives described parents and grandparents as a “burden” on the federal government in terms of financial support. They have described parents and grandparents as a drain on the provinces.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship  We have quadrupled the number available for Canadians and permanent residents to reunite with their families. While the Conservatives are busy dividing Canadians, we are focused on reuniting families.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship  They even tried to hit the delete button where, for two years under their watch, Canadians could not be sponsors. We are focused on getting the job done. The Conservatives will continue to—

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship  Speaker, we inherited a backlog of 167,000 people in the parents and grandparents program. Under Conservative leadership, families were waiting eight years to be reunited with their parents and grandparents. We have brought that process time down to less than two years. We have quadrupled the number, from 5,000 to 20,000 spots, so that more parents and grandparents can be reunited with their families.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship  In addition to that, we have reduced the backlog that the Conservatives left us by 80%. We have simplified the process. We will continue to be ambitious in immigration. We will leave the fearmongering to the other side.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship  This is the first time the international community has worked together to develop a comprehensive set of principles to better manage this phenomenon. It is disappointing to see the Conservatives and Maxime, the member opposite, engage in peddling Rebel Media conspiracy theories while we work with the international community to protect our robust immigration system.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship  Our government believes in expanding the youth mobility program to Portugal, as it will give valuable work experience and perspective to Canadians travelling abroad. Unlike the Conservatives, we believe the world needs more Canada.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship  It is about the orderly management of migration. It is about recognizing Canada's success with integration and settlement. Only a Conservative with a broken immigration record would find a problem with our sharing our best practices with the world. When it comes to making sure that we export the privately sponsored refugee program or our success with economic immigration, we will sign the agreement.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship  As members know, we have quadrupled the number of spaces available in the private sponsorship of refugees program as compared to the Conservatives. This has allowed us to reduce processing times, to reduce backlogs and to work closely with community sponsors, like the Bhullar foundation, to resettle even more religious minorities.