Committees Of The House  Madam Speaker, I move: That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), concerning a review of the Citizenship Act, the House authorize the required personnel of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration to travel from place to place for the purpose of preparing and holding video-teleconference sittings during the weeks of May 31 and June 6, 1994. I think You Honour will find unanimous consent for the motion.

Refugees  Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. Recently, we learned that the Montreal refugee assistance committee had lodged an international complaint against Canada concerning the improper deportation to Zaire of a young pregnant woman who was given a sedative without her consent and this, in violation of sections 219 and 265 of the Criminal Code of Canada as well as Section 11 of the Quebec Civil Code.

Refugees  Considering how serious this issue is and since the minister has admitted that 12 people received such treatment, will the minister commit to holding an independent inquiry, as required under international agreements, to shed light on possibly illegal behaviour on the part of immigration officers?

Refugees  Mr. Speaker, no, I am not going to have an inquiry for something that this member throws very loosely across the floor. If he has information that anyone has perpetrated illegal acts then he has the duty and the obligation as a member of Parliament to provide me with that information.

Royal Canadian Legion  Of the several commentaries I have heard, most condemn this action and once again we hear divisive accusations being hurled by each side. As a member of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration I have spent many days now listening to the varying opinions of experts and non-experts alike. What is our mandate as we review the Citizenship Act? Indeed, what is the mandate of every Canadian citizen as they identify with Canada?

Seniors-Reduction Of Age Credit  Mr. Speaker, I welcome this opportunity on behalf of the government to clarify the measure proposed in our February budget regarding the old age credit. This is an issue deserves better than partisan politics, sacred cow logic and misinformation because the challenge of an aging population is very real for every region of this country.

The Late Walter Dufek  In his final months he was deeply concerned that the freedom we enjoy in Canada, the country he immigrated to in 1951, must be guarded and not taken for granted. Mr. Dufek said we must be alert, even in a democracy, of coercive governments that use the tyranny of taxation and the liberalization of the criminal just system to give too many rights to criminals while ignoring the victims.

Income Tax Act  Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to have the opportunity to make a few comments in this debate. I begin by congratulating the hon. member for Nepean on bringing forward the motion. Her interest in and her support for women and children caught in untenable situations have long been known.

Witness Protection Act  Police of all jurisdictions deal with organized crime, including the RCMP, provincial and municipal services. Other enforcement authorities also have important roles to play. For example, federal immigration and citizenship authorities work with the police to deal with the smuggling of illegal aliens and illicit trafficking in forged or stolen personal identification documents. In a similar fashion customs and excise authorities work closely with the police in dealing with the movement of drugs, weapons, contraband liquor and tobacco, protected technologies, or other illegally imported or exported goods.

Refugee Status  Speaker, some very serious problems have undermined the credibility of the process to review, on compassionate grounds, cases in which refugee status was denied. Although the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration has been aware of these problems since March, there has been a steady stream of deportations without any particular show of concern by the minister. The Davis Wallman report is clear: the process lacks compassion, it is arbitrary and it puts in jeopardy the lives of hundreds of people deported to their country of origin where human rights violations are the order of the day.

Petitions  Speaker, I have the pleasure of submitting a petition signed by over 1,500 residents of my riding who ask Parliament to urge the minister of immigration to legalize the status of the Dudka family so that they can lead an honest, peaceful life in Quebec, as they intend to. Given that the Dudkas have been living in Mascouche since January 7, 1992, but failed to obtain refugee status, that both parents have stable employment, that the family has adjusted harmoniously to the Quebec society, that support for the Dudkas is already widespread, that there are two children in this family, one of whom was born in Quebec, and that their lives would be in danger if they were forced to return to Argentina, I feel duty bound to ask the minister to consider this petition and grant refugee status to the Dudka family in Quebec.

Immigration  A very short supplementary question.

Immigration  Mr. Speaker, we are concerned about the millions of legitimate refugees who are languishing all over the world, many close to death. This minister is making it easy for the migrants who have the economic wherewithal to travel to Canada and claim asylum. We are concerned about queue jumpers.

Immigration  Hear, hear.

Immigration  Order. I am sure that was a slip of the lip. I am sure the hon. minister would want to withdraw that four letter word.