Protecting Canada's Immigration System Act  Minister of Immigration, who I am proud to stand alongside today. Canada already has the most fair and generous immigration system in the world. Canada welcomes more resettled refugees than almost any other country in the world. However, in order for our asylum system to continue to be generous and to work effectively, Canadians need to know that it is not vulnerable to abuse.

Protecting Canada's Immigration System Act  They do not make it through our process. We like to think that our process has been, and still is, fair and generous. However, sometimes it has rejected people who really did need our protection. Let us be clear about that. The vast majority of refugees in this world, and they number in the millions, never make it to an industrialized country.

Protecting Canada's Immigration System Act  Many other people in this House are immigrants themselves. We need to strengthen the system because Canada is a fair and generous place in the world and we want it to remain so. The hon. member talked about several things. He talked about fairness. He talked about making sure the timelines are much shorter for genuine refugees and being able to screen out the bogus refugees, saving Canadian taxpayers $1.65 billion over five years.

Protecting Canada’s Immigration System Act  Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to rise today and have the opportunity to speak on Bill C-31 protecting Canada's immigration system act. Canada has the most fair and generous immigration system in the world. However, our immigration system is open to abuse. Canadians are generous people, but we have no tolerance for those who abuse that generosity and who take unfair advantage of our great country.

Protecting Canada's Immigration System Act  Mr. Speaker, let us talk about fairness. Without question, Canada has the most fair and generous immigration system in the world. However, Canadians, and we are hearing this every day in our ridings, have no tolerance for those who would abuse our generosity and would take unfair advantage of our country.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  As you know, Canada is one of the most welcoming countries in the world. We have one of the most fair and generous immigration systems. Now, you mentioned a whole slew of countries, but can you talk about any specific cases where people have actually used false representation or fraudulent means to get to Canada?

Preventing Human Smugglers from Abusing Canada's Immigration System Act  What Canadians are telling us, however, is that they are outraged that human smuggling syndicates are exploiting Canada's fair and generous immigration system to make a quick profit. They share our government's grave concerns that Canada will continue to be a magnet for these irregular arrivals unless we do something now.

Citizenship and Immigration  Madam Speaker, Canada has one of the most fair and generous immigration systems in the world. Canadians have absolutely no tolerance for those who would abuse our generosity and would take unfair advantage of our country. Let us look at the facts.

Citizenship and Immigration  Mr. Speaker, it is no secret that our immigration system, as the most fair and generous in the world, is open to abuse. Whether it is by bogus refugee claimants coming to receive taxpayer-funded benefits, human smugglers or foreign criminals, Canadians, including my constituents of Richmond Hill, have no tolerance for those who abuse our generosity and take unfair advantage of our country.

Citizenship and Immigration  No one can be deported or removed at the border until their case has been reviewed by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, an application for leave is submitted to the Federal Court, a pre-removal risk assessment is conducted and, often, a claim for permanent residence on humanitarian grounds is filed. That means that the system is very fair and generous to all applicants. Even foreign criminals have—

Preventing Human Smugglers from Abusing Canada's Immigration System Act  One of the reasons that Canadians are so understandably upset when they see large scale smuggling operations is that it violates their sense of fairness and their belief that our immigration system is characterized by the application of fair rules. Millions of people have come to Canada through our fair and generous immigration or refugee resettlement programs. In my experience they are those who most profoundly resent those who would pay illegal criminal networks to be smuggled to Canada illegally, avoiding the legal system.

Bill C-596 An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act (conduct and speech of members)

The Parliament of Canada Act is amended by adding the following after section 4: Conduct and speech of members 4.1 The members shall, in the exercise of their privileges, immunities and powers referred to in section 4, endeavour to ensure that their conduct is fair and generally beneficial, fosters good will and encourages and cultivates friendship, and that their speech is truthful and consistent with that conduct. Published under authority of the Speaker of the House of CommonsAvailable from:Publishing and Depository ServicesPublic Works and Government Services Canada

Parliament of Canada Act  Specifically, the bill adds section 4.1 which states: The members shall, in the exercise of their privileges, immunities and powers referred to in section 4, endeavour to ensure that their conduct is fair and generally beneficial, fosters good will and encourages and cultivates friendship, and that their speech is truthful and consistent with that conduct. These ethical criteria for the conduct and speech of members reflect the Rotary International four-way test as a guide for everything we think, say and do.

Preventing Human Smugglers from Abusing Canada's Immigration System Act  We are committed to protecting the safety and security of Canadians. Taken together, the changes we have proposed will help safeguard our fair and generous immigration system. Moreover, they will help ensure that Canada is not an easy target for criminal organizations involved in human smuggling. As I mentioned before, this legislation has won the support of virtually all key stakeholders.

Public Safety committee  I would suggest that those are clear indicia that would suggest it's preferable to have a person be transferred here rather than have the person come back across the border without us necessarily knowing. Is that a fair statement generally?