Immigration  Speaking generally, Canadians face and favour a system which is tolerant to those who legitimately wish to put their claims before the Immigration and Refugee Board. On the other hand they want a sense of balance for those who are convicted of heinous crimes or those who wish to clearly subvert the law. They do not want that tolerance abused.

Social Security System  She can take pride in the fact that the government has already introduced regulatory changes that will allow refugee claimants to work while awaiting the outcome of their claim. The government is committed to enhanced co-operation and co-ordination between the two levels of government. We will have to work together to use scarce resources more effectively.

Immigration  Quebec has a selection with respect to independent and business immigration. Obviously it also assumes a family class and refugee class under the federal guideline. The hon. member's party is suggesting that the figure be 150,000. I know what you are against but I also want to know what you are in favour of. If you want to cut 100,000 immigrants, as your party is advocating, I would like to know where you are going to cut.

Social Security System  As each year goes by, we lose a little more of our ability to help the poor, whether it is the needy refugees coming into our country or any other poor within our society. What would the member suggest? How would the member suggest we help the poor in this country when we lose the financial and economic ability to do so?

Social Security System  I was suggesting that if there is something in the culture of a third world country which needs changing, we should be trying to change it over in that country and not sending a message to all third world countries that these types of things will provide an open door policy for people to be granted refugee status in Canada.

Social Security System  I want clarification on the issue of women and children as victims of violence. If a mother and child come to this country and in claiming refugee status they claim that one of the reasons they want to stay here is because they are victims of violence, if they have categorical proof that they are victims of violence, is the hon. member suggesting that we should deport them back to that violent situation?

Immigration  We are certainly prepared to listen. This government has already introduced regulatory changes that will allow refugee claimants to work while awaiting the outcome of their claim, thus reducing the burden on social assistance. The minister of immigration intends to review other provisions in co-operation with the provinces with a view to maximizing the benefits of immigration to our country while minimizing its costs.

Human Rights  In regard to the 30 or 50 individuals from El Salvador, I should mention a fact that he knows and appreciates I am sure, the privacy laws prevent me from going into the specific details. These individuals went through a refugee board determination hearing, had full appeal to the Federal Court, have had reviews conducted. They wrote my office seeking a meeting and officials in my department are currently in the process of meeting with these individuals in Montreal-they just provided us with the names a few days ago-in order to receive the proposal they wish to make to us.

Foreign Affairs  As well, it is clear that our troops are able to get humanitarian aid through to those in need. The UN Commission for Refugees and the Red Cross are both on record as having stated that the food is getting through. What about our international reputation? If the UN withdraws what impact will this have on future peacekeeping operations?

Foreign Affairs  Two years later in 1916 Berlin, Ontario, which was called Canada's German capital became Kitchener and Kitchener changed profoundly after that date. After 1945 Kitchener riding received thousands of immigrants and refugees from what was Yugoslavia. I take these examples to illustrate that nearly all Canadians were affected by those two terrible wars and those two terrible wars were concentrated in the area where we are looking at such carnage today.

Foreign Affairs  We must be careful to balance this against the needs of the 2.75 million people that the UN High Commissioner for Refugees says depend on the humanitarian aid as their sole source of food. This is a weighty question. We must sit here to balance the lives of 1,800 Canadian personnel versus an estimated three million innocent citizens.

Foreign Affairs  Women, children and the elderly would run the risk of being wiped out or becoming another wave of refugees seeking a homeland elsewhere. Withdrawal would mean creating a crisis in adjacent regions. International security could be put in serious danger in the Balkans. From the relatively contained problem in Bosnia, the danger of spreading is high with very serious security implications and even the possibility of laying the foundations for another world war conflict.

Foreign Affairs  Even the United Nations itself has admitted that in Croatia UNPROFOR has been unable to establish conditions of peace and security that would have permitted the voluntary return of refugees and displaced persons to their homes in the protected areas. The UN has admitted that despite the best efforts of its civilian police they have been unable to prevent discrimination and abuse of human rights in the protected zones in the first year of their mandate.