Refugees
Ms.
Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral (
Laval
Centre, BQ): Mr. Speaker, a
number of days ago, three Palestinians who were denied refugee status
sought sanctuary in the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce church in
Montreal
to avoid being deported. Although
Thérèse, Khabil and Nabih Ayoub lived in refugee camps for 50 years,
Canada
has no qualms about giving them a
one-way ticket to a refugee camp in
Lebanon
.
Can
the minister explain the logic behind
Canada
's decision to refuse to grant
refugee status to applicants, although these same authorities confirm that
status by sending them to refugee camps in
Lebanon
?
[English]
Hon.
Judy Sgro (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Lib.): Mr.
Speaker, as she knows, I am not able to comment on a particular case, but
all cases are given full and due process. When people seek sanctuary in a
church, we do not go after them. We have a very fair process. One of the
processes that is often criticized is that we are too fair.
Canada
can be very proud of the processes
we have in our immigration and refugee system.
[Translation]
Ms.
Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral (
Laval
Centre, BQ): Mr. Speaker,
the current Immigration and Refugee Protection Act came into force on
June 28, 2002
, and the refugee appeal division
is still not in place.
What
is the reason behind the minister's delay in setting up this appeal
division, which is essential to the implementation of an equitable process
for all individuals claiming refugee status?
[English]
Hon.
Judy Sgro (York West, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, we have a very fair process.
There are at least four avenues of review or appeal on every application.
It is always looked at with common sense, fairness and transparency.
Canadians
can be very proud of the system we have in place.
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