Department Of Citizenship And Immigration Act  That was so good we will let you continue after question period. It being 2 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 30(5), the House will now proceed to Statements by Members pursuant to Standing Order 31.

Department Of Citizenship And Immigration Act  Careful the wheels don't fall off.

Department Of Citizenship And Immigration Act  I would advise the House that we are now on 20 minutes for debate and 10 minutes for questions and comments.

Department Of Citizenship And Immigration Act  No committee?

Immigration  Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his response. A refugee program includes both the inland refugee system and our UNHCR commitment to offshore refugees. If this current inland rate persists is the minister determined to increase our total refugee numbers, or will he renege on Canada's international obligation to needy refugees around the world?

D-Day  The landing of Canadian troops in Sicily in 1943 is still remembered with great affection by all Sicilians and those Sicilians who immigrated to Canada and live in Vancouver celebrated with me and the military in 1983. The arrival of the Allies in Italy meant the end of a cruel, senseless war and a return to democracy and freedom to a whole continent and ultimately to the world.

Yukon First Nations Self-Government Act  My concern is that we create a Canada where Canadians of whatever description, no matter where they live in the country, no matter whether they came here as immigrants or were born here, are Canadian citizens, are equal and do not have particular rights because of a particular ethnicity, language, religion or anything else. That to me is key. If the legislation can be improved to reflect that, I am completely in favour of it.

Extension Of Sitting Hours  There is also Bill C-35, the legislation to permit the reorganization of the new Department of Citizenship and Immigration. We also have to deal with Bill C-33, the Yukon land claims legislation and Bill C-34 regarding native self-government in Yukon. I want to mention that I have been receiving many representations from not only native groups but from the premier of the Yukon saying that these bills represent a consensus in the Yukon territory after some 21 years of effort.

Credit Card Interest Calculation Act  This could include people with low incomes and those with below average levels of education together with young adults and recent immigrants. Thus it is possible that the very people the bills were designed to help could be adversely affected by this bill. Moreover, it was suggested that if interest rate ceilings were legislated they would likely in practice become floor prices.

Supply  Quebec's participation in the appointment of three civil-law judges to the Supreme Court; entrenchment of the Cullen-Couture Agreement in the Constitution, that is, Quebec's power to control its immigration and to protect the very nature of the Quebec people; the provinces' unanimous agreement to reform some federal institutions. Everyone in Quebec as well as many people in English Canada thought these demands were quite acceptable.

Supply  That is what the Liberal vision of Canada is all about. When I can stand in the House of Commons with a Chinese immigrant who came to this country and is now Secretary of State for Asia-Pacific and is proud to speak more than one language, that is about making Canada work and using the talent of every citizen.

Supply  Madam Speaker, I really appreciated the speech just given by the member opposite. As a youngster born in a family of immigrants that pioneered in western Canada I feel that same love for the country in its entirety. The question here today really is not, for most of us at least in the House, whether this is the best country in the world.

Supply  He forgot that during these 30 years, during which we were regrettably unable to solve our constitutional problems, some things helped Quebec develop itself. The Quebec Pension Plan and the agreement on immigration, for example, are two of them. At present, there is also the three-level infrastructure program that is working well. During that time, Quebec developed. What programs, what things prevent Quebec from developing and being a dynamic society within a Canadian federation?

Supply  It reflects my personal point of view, not as a representative of any race or of any province, but as a proud immigrant Canadian citizen. It is not directed to the politicians in the House but rather to the people of Canada from sea to sea to sea, the voters who entrust us to work in their best interests.

Supply  They did not die as anglophones or francophones, as easterners or westerners, as Christians or Jews, as immigrants or natives. They died as Canadians. Unfortunately, some politicians deal only with the negative. Negativism and a gloomy way of seeing our great country are a way of life for them.