Citizenship and Immigration committee  On the first question of whether they could be further relaxed, the honest answer is yes. It may be cumbersome; it may not achieve what this committee has set out to achieve in its previous motions, but we could all, I think, think of an amendment right now that would, for exampl

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I think it's fair to say that the member is asking whether or not, putting aside the country of asylum argument, there's another option that might work in terms of changing the definition of class, another option for the committee to look after these remaining 188.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I don't know exactly, but it was very quickly. I think there is no question that the ministerial discretion in subsection 25(1) would probably be the fastest because the minister can issue a minister's permit as quickly as he chooses. There may be processes and checks and so for

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Just to be clear, you're referring to subsection 25(1), under which the minister has the authority to do that.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Much as I would love to speak for the former government.... First, let me be cautious. There's a different fact situation now, and that's the argument I really want to make to you. For any of you who may have the view that we should proceed cautiously in these matters in terms o

Citizenship and Immigration committee  That's a very good point. The minister only needs to intervene under subsection 25(1) if he wants to make a humanitarian and compassionate finding and issue a minister's permit. He does not need to intervene. We need a finding by a delegated officer, under the act, that these peo

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Any officer could make that finding--for example, an officer at the embassy in Manila.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  If I might add to that, I believe it was CIC's reluctance to make that finding that led the minister to take the approach he did, which was to change the definition of the class. He was trying to find another way to get this done.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  As I said, Canada has had a great tradition on this and tried last year to get as many as they could. Some have come; for other reasons, other countries stepped up, so we are where we are now. There are a couple of things in connection with the convention on statelessness. First

Citizenship and Immigration committee  What kind of details are you looking for? Do you want details on the current status of these individuals, or do you want to know more about the legal arguments presented?

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Let me try to add to that--and please, members, interrupt or drill down when you think it is important. I am reluctant, both in terms of specifically trying to help the SOS Viet Phi, and more generally to try to represent or not adequately represent the position of the departmen

Citizenship and Immigration committee  That's right.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My name is Richard Mahoney. I appear today as a volunteer counsel to the SOS Viet Phi. Let me give you a little about my background in this organization. I don't think I can add much to the very powerful evidence we've heard from people who have been t