Citizenship and Immigration committee  Any choice at this point, given the size of the backlog, the size of the fore-log, and the inefficient system, is going to be unpopular. Whatever the colour of the government in force, it is going to have to make some hard decisions. We have Bill C-50 in front of us. There may be

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I think it's important to add, Mr. Carrier, if I may-- I thank you very much for your question —that we're here as a regulator. We're talking about consumer protection and the issue of the people who will be in the fore-log and the backlog unless the Government of Canada puts i

Citizenship and Immigration committee  By creating efficiencies through amending the process, it will allow us to get at that backlog. That's my opinion.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I take issue with the fact that--

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Are you directing the question?

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I would like to respond to that.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think in fairness, this backlog--or fore-log, whatever you want to call it--has been around as long as I have been around. The last government tried to deal with it using pools and streams, which was the effort that essentially brought in many of the meas

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Mr. St-Cyr, I concur with my colleague, except that I want to mention one thing. The current system provides that the federal government retains the ability to refuse or to issue a visa on statutory grounds. That would continue with Bill C-50; it wouldn't be affected. Irrespectiv

Citizenship and Immigration committee  With respect to restrictions on classifications, I have to concur with the earlier panel: I don't see a restriction. However, I would suggest that politically it would be extremely difficult for the minister to enact that.