Questions On The Order Paper  With respect to reports by non-governmental organizations that Vietnamese refugees interned in Southeast Asian camps are being subjected to inhumane treatment by host governments, ( a ) is the government investigating these reports and ( b ) what action does the government plan to take with respect to these alleged human rights violations?

Immigration  This man failed to comply with the conditions laid down the last time his deportation appeal was successful. Who is going to be responsible when he comes back in? Will it be the minister or the refugee board? Or would it really be most logical and likely that the minister could now overturn this and just not let him back in at all?

Immigration  Out he went and that is good. Now that we have finally kicked this fellow out of the country, why has the refugee board made a decision overriding the immigration deportation order and is now allowing him back into Canada?

Immigration  Mr. Speaker, I think the member is confusing the refugee stream and the immigration stream. The issue here is not a claim based on whether an individual is or is not HIV positive. The claim made was on the basis of being a member of a social group, in this case sexual orientation, and that there was a well founded fear of persecution.

Immigration  Speaker, this case does not set a precedent. That is why the hon. member does not understand how the Immigration and Refugee Board operates. It operates independently of the government. Also, cases are considered on their own individual merits. I mentioned to the member that there have only been two cases in the system.

Immigration  Speaker, on September 24 of last year in my constituency, Catherine Evenson, a beautiful young lady who was confined to a wheelchair, was raped in her home. The man facing rape charges is a refugee and is now trying to cement his stay in Canada by applying for permanent resident status. Will the minister of immigration intervene in this case and ensure that no permanent status in Canada is considered until the case is heard and the verdict is handed down?

Canadian Flag  I am pleased they are in Ottawa today as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of Canada's maple leaf flag. As a former refugee who came to Canada with my parents, brother and sister in 1957, I now have the privilege of represent- ing the constituency of the federal riding of Waterloo. I bear witness to the idea of compassion, sharing and equity that Canadians represent and what our flag symbolizes.

Agriculture And Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Act  Speaker, let us look at the track record of both the parole board and the Immigration and Refugee Board. They are people who have been placed within the system and supposedly have qualified backgrounds. Yet, what is happening? They are friends of ministers. They are friends of the Liberal Party.

Agriculture And Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Act  Speaker, the whole issue of the board and how it is going to resolve disputes or complaints is very important. Let us look at the parole board. It is an appointed body. The Immigration and Refugee Board is another appointed body. I believe the CRTC falls in the same category. There are numerous other ad hoc appointments, crown prosecutors for one. Now we are looking at an agricultural board.

Agriculture And Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Act  I point out to him that his party and another colleague in the House have spoken out very eloquently many times against the refugee board in another context suggesting that it is another tribunal which is a waste of taxpayers' money. Now we hear the hon. member proposing yet another tribunal which would draw on the public purse.

Immigration  This government has already taken measures to improve not only the immigration but also the refugee determination system. We passed the other night Bill C-44, intended to improve the system and cut down on the very abuses that are part of that. We said at the end of last year as part of the program and agency review that additional reforms will be brought before the House of Commons in the very near future.

Department Of External Affairs Act  We need to be leaders in that area and show that leadership to other countries of the world. Immigration, migration and refugees are also problems we have to deal with. We are concerned that 80 per cent of trade is with the U.S. We realize we must diversify. Unfortunately, a great many people say: "Okay, I deal with the Americans.

Immigration  Despite interventions by a number of women's rights groups, the minister intends to have a refugee from Trinidad and Tobago, who is the victim of spousal abuse, deported on Friday. She was divorced in 1991 after being beaten by her former husband, who has returned to Quebec on a special ministerial permit.

Immigration  Speaker, I wish to thank the hon. member for his question and point out to him and his colleagues in the House that the individual in question, although it is difficult to talk about the facts of an individual case, has had two refugee hearings. Both of those hearings turned out negative. Her removal, as a consequence of those negative hearings, was delayed so that the gender persecution guidelines-the only country in the world to have such guidelines-could be applied, were applied and those guidelines were negative.

Immigration  Some countries are discriminatory. These guidelines are to enable eligible women to obtain refugee status.