Citizenship and Immigration  I can point out, however, that it is peculiar that the European Union is the number one source region for asylum claims to Canada, that Canada gets 98% of Hungarian asylum claims filed worldwide and that about 95% of those claims are abandoned or withdrawn by the claimants themselves or subsequently rejected by our fair and generous Immigration and Refugee Board. We are here to provide real protection to real refugees, but to discourage false claims.

Citizenship and Immigration  Canadian taxpayers have no obligation to provide gold-plated health insurance to illegal immigrants who have been deemed by our fair and generous legal system not to be refugees. It is interesting to note that we brought in the initial part of this change on July 1 and we immediately saw a 90% reduction in the number of asylum claims being filed by nationals of the democracies of the European Union.

Situation in Syria  We are delivering on our commitment to resettle 20,000 Iraqi refugees, which will help to relieve some of the pressure in these neighbouring countries. Canada has the most fair and generous refugee system in the world. We welcome one in ten of all resettled refugees, more than any other country. I would note that while the UNHCR is not referring any refugees for resettlement at this time, our government has been actively working on options that will allow us to act if the UN does at some point in the future recommend resettlement of these refugees.

Government Operations committee  When parliamentary personnel, i.e., a clerk, can't contact the office and get an answer in a seven-day period, it's worrisome, not only for their appearance here in the future but for fairness in general. We're talking about a lot of public funds. Obviously the Auditor General as well assumes that this person is in place and that this office is functioning. It's troubling. It seems to me that this underscores the importance of having them appear, and doing everything possible to have them appear.

Veterans Affairs committee  The objective of our request for new legislation is to produce a world-class military service compensation and pension act that is fair and generous to all veterans, and especially those veterans with a lifetime disability. Mr. Chairman and honourable members, thank you for your time and attention.

Citizenship and Immigration  Mr. Speaker, Canada has the most fair and generous immigration system in the world, the most fair and generous asylum system in the world, but Canadians have no tolerance for those who would abuse our generosity and take unfair advantage of that undoubted world-class generosity.

Questions on the Order Paper  Canada has a long and proud tradition of providing protection to those truly in need. We have one of the most fair and generous immigration systems in the world. We welcome about one out of every 10 of all resettled refugees globally, more than almost any industrialized country in the world. Canada is one of the world’s largest providers of humanitarian aid to Syrian refugees.

Citizenship and Immigration  Mr. Speaker, Canada has a fair and generous asylum system where decisions are made by the independent Immigration and Refugee Board, not under political pressure but according to the facts. Where claims fail, there is recourse to appeals.

Citizenship and Immigration  Mr. Speaker, Canada's fair and generous immigration and asylum systems are second to none. There are numerous avenues of appeal open to all of those whose cases fail at the first instance. Once those avenues of appeal have been exhausted, we expect claimants to leave the country.

Finance committee  It addresses the objectives by giving the option to the provinces to make decisions about waiting times so that our fair and generous immigration system is not abused.

Economic Action Plan 2014 Act, No. 2  The member talked about welfare for refugees. I wish that the NDP would stand in the House and recognize that Canada is the most fair and generous country in the world to refugees, and certainly to immigrants. Canadians have no tolerance, however, for those who would abuse the system. When refugees come to this country from refugee camps, for example, we give them as much as we can to give them a good start here in Canada.

Citizenship and Immigration  Speaker, the member will know that because of privacy laws, I cannot speak to the specifics of this particular case. I will state this. Canada has one of the most fair and generous immigration systems in the world. With that said, we must ensure that we continue to welcome newcomers while respecting Canadian taxpayers at all times.

Industry committee  Ultimately, we have to provide a reasonable retirement plan for all Canadians, but how can we do it in a way that's not going to unduly or unfairly penalize those companies that have been responsible, that have provided reasonable, fair, and generous pension plans to their employees? How do we do that in a fair way?

Public Safety  Mr. Speaker, we know that Canada has a fair and generous immigration system. We welcome tens of thousands of new Canadians every year. However, the increasing number of asylum seekers who are entering the country illegally through Manitoba and Quebec is worrisome.

Taxation  Mr. Speaker, New Democrats have fought for tax fairness for generations, so we welcome the Liberals to the conversation with open arms. Yet, in typical Liberal fashion, they have somehow managed to screw up the consultation and decided to focus only on small business.