Citizenship and Immigration committee  I think Hani and I would both like to thank the committee for coming here to Winnipeg. We appreciate your taking the time to hear us out, and we appreciate your comments and wish you good luck and bonne chance.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I appreciate that the committee is going to do this. I think it's long overdue. I've been in this business for 18 years, working with the department. In the 1990s, when Barbara McDougall was the minister, things moved more quickly. It was more efficient, and the numbers being processed were higher.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Yes. UNHCR usually refers refugees who have already been screened by UNHCR. They determine the urgency of need and the need for protection. These are usually people who are in refugee camps being run by the UN. Yes, Canada does refuse them based on interviews, or for a number of reasons, but in most cases UNHCR referrals are accepted.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  The question is...first, you mention a peaceful solution in Iraq. That would be when pigs can fly. The reality is that, yes, the cause of the problem is the American invasion and the dictatorial regime of Saddam Hussein. What you have now is sectarian warfare in what has basically become a failed state.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I wouldn't know. You could check with CIC on that. Very few. We get all the government-sponsored refugees who arrive here in Manitoba. I think we had about 631 arrive last year. They were mainly from Congo, from Northern Burma, etc. There were very few Iraqis. In spite of the situation worsening in Iraq, we still don't see the flow.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  No. Very few have come here. That's what I'm saying.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Manitoba Interfaith is the largest private sponsor in Canada, aside from handling government-sponsored refugees. As Hani pointed out, the Iraqi community is one of our constituent groups. Yes, we would most certainly be able to handle many more.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  It's hard for me to speak for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, but let me explain my understanding of what they have told us about the way they choose. Basically the signatories to the covenant on refugee protection in the United Nations.... Canada is a signatory.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  There are over two million: one million have crossed into Syria and over one million have crossed into Jordan. Those numbers were increasing daily. But now that the Syrians and the Jordanians have closed the border and there are six-month certificates that have to be renewed, they're pushing people back.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  My understanding is that the target for this year is 700. That is for all of Canada. This is an abysmally low target, considering the needs and the urgency of the situation. It is my feeling and my opinion that this is political. The fact is, the Americans and the Bush government keep saying the situation is getting better since the surge.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Let me suggest that what Hani is saying is if Canada supported oil for support and supported increasing the amount it gives to UNHCR to provide people with stability, it would allow us to process people on a priority basis, particularly.... They could remain in Syria if they had three square meals a day and a roof over their heads and UN protection.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  My understanding is the British have taken 2,000 Iraqi refugees, as did the Americans, and it was only a bill through Congress that.... They were taking people who worked directly for them, as interpreters or bodyguards, etc. This is not being prioritized on the need or the danger of refugees.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Very simply, what I would tell people is that the situation in Iraq is unique. There seems to be a government policy, which is re-articulated in Bill C-50, that the way to control the needs of refugees is to put caps on the numbers rather than increase the ability to deal with refugees, which to me is an outrage.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  By the way, I'd just like to comment that my son enjoyed his five years with the committee too, so I think there is a mutual love relationship here. Even though he is now with the IRB, I think he misses the committee. There are interesting things going on here all the time. The Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council is the largest private sponsor in Canada, and we have about 50 constituent groups.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Thank you very much. I'd like to welcome all the committee members to Winnipeg. You brought some nice weather with you, and we appreciate it. We want to talk about the situation in Iraq and why we feel that Canada is really not taking its responsibilities. We would hope the committee would look a little more carefully at what is going on in Iraq.