Citizenship and Immigration committee  I'll just follow up on that, just so that we just are totally clear here. You said 55% were approved in 2013. I believe there are about 89,000 refugee claimants as of the end of 2012, in total. So 55% is just under 50,000. Has the department done any kind of study on the socia

Citizenship and Immigration committee  In this scenario though, just to be clear, if a province chose to take up this invitation, they would have no social assistance.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Right, but do we know that this is true? Is there a report out there that shows that this measure is going to do what the government is saying it's going to do?

Citizenship and Immigration committee  In response to my colleague, Ms. Sitsabaiesan, about whether these changes are charter-compliant, I believe you said that the provinces should consider this if they decide to make some changes, that they should seek legal advice. Are you telling this committee that the governmen

Citizenship and Immigration committee  When the Province of Ontario raised concerns about those exact things, what did the department or the government say to the province to allay their concerns about subsequent charter challenges?

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Is this measure, if taken up by the provinces, charter-compliant?

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Let me ask it a different way. Did the department get a legal opinion on this?

Citizenship and Immigration committee  And what was that? What was the legal advice on this?

Citizenship and Immigration committee  But we have seen the government wrapped up in the courts on a number of different pieces of legislation and lose, in fact. What you're saying is, “Well, if it's coming forward, then it has obviously met the charter requirements”.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Just as an aside, Canadians pay for those legal challenges when they happen. It would be nice for Canadians to know what the legal advice and legal opinions are for legislation that comes forward.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  On a point of order, this is very informative stuff, but I fail to see how it connects to the issue at hand. If there is some clarification I'd be all ears.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Getting back to the matter at hand. Mr. de Vlieger, has the department done a study, or does it contain data that shows that a measure like this would be a disincentive to those considering claiming refugee status in Canada?

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Okay. Has the department done a study, or does it contain data that shows a measure like this would save money?

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Mr. MacDonald, is there a finance study that shows a measure like this would save money?

Citizenship and Immigration committee  If a government were to say the reason this measure is important is because it will provide a disincentive, or it will save money, what would they base those statements on?