On Tuesday, Jason Kenney, Canada’s Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, introduced legislation that will bring reform to Canada’s Asylum System and fairness to those genuinely seeking shelter from conflict and oppression.
Canadians can be proud that our country has one of the most generous refugee systems in the world. In fact we’ve given shelter to over one million refugees since World War II.
Unfortunately, as Canada makes an effort to provide refuge for those who need it, there are many who try and take advantage of the generosity of Canadians. This puts us in danger of creating a two-tiered system: one for those who patiently wait in line to come to Canada and another for those who jump the line, thinking they can play the system to their own advantage.
The result is an overburdened system with a backlog of people who are claiming asylum.
Our Conservative Government is addressing this inequality by proposing legislation that will:
- Result in faster decisions and quicker removals of failed claims;
- Depoliticize the process through which claims are heard; and
- Deliver balanced reform to increase help for those who genuinely need it.
Refugees who have legitimate reasons to come to Canada deserve to be supported during their transition. That’s why our Government is also proposing to invest in increased help for genuine refugees who come to Canada through government or private sponsorship programs.
By fixing our broken system here in Canada we can effectively increase the generosity of our overseas system.
Our Conservative Government is working hard to fix our broken asylum system to help ensure that genuine refugees can find asylum in Canada faster and more efficiently.
On Tuesday, Jason Kenney, Canada’s Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, introduced legislation that will bring reform to Canada’s Asylum System and fairness to those genuinely seeking shelter from conflict and oppression.
Canadians can be proud that our country has one of the most generous refugee systems in the world. In fact we’ve given shelter to over one million refugees since World War II.
Unfortunately, as Canada makes an effort to provide refuge for those who need it, there are many who try and take advantage of the generosity of Canadians. This puts us in danger of creating a two-tiered system: one for those who patiently wait in line to come to Canada and another for those who jump the line, thinking they can play the system to their own advantage.
The result is an overburdened system with a backlog of people who are claiming asylum.
Our Conservative Government is addressing this inequality by proposing legislation that will:
- Result in faster decisions and quicker removals of failed claims;
- Depoliticize the process through which claims are heard; and
- Deliver balanced reform to increase help for those who genuinely need it.
Refugees who have legitimate reasons to come to Canada deserve to be supported during their transition. That’s why our Government is also proposing to invest in increased help for genuine refugees who come to Canada through government or private sponsorship programs.
By fixing our broken system here in Canada we can effectively increase the generosity of our overseas system.
Our Conservative Government is working hard to fix our broken asylum system to help ensure that genuine refugees can find asylum in Canada faster and more efficiently.
When Canada’s Economic Action Plan was first launched in January 2009, Michael Ignatieff called for billions more in stimulus spending than the Conservative Government was proposing.
Ignatieff was quoted as saying “Canada still needs more stimulus spending” (Globe and Mail, Jul. 24, 2009) and “I have a feeling that we’re going to need to do more.” (Montreal Gazette, Mar. 26, 2009)
Even after calling for more deficit spending, Ignatieff was on the record about the deficit just a few weeks ago saying “I keep telling them, it’s not my problem.” (CBC News Network, Jan. 19, 2010)
Now Ignatieff is complaining about stimulus spending and the size of the deficit. His solution? Massive tax hikes on Canadians including possible GST hikes, Liberals musing about carbon taxes and an Ignatieff proposal to raise job-killing business taxes.
Ignatieff says there’s not enough stimulus spending. Then he says there’s too much spending. He says the deficit is not his problem. Then he says it is.
While Ignatieff wants to raise your taxes, our Conservative Government is focused on leading the way on building jobs and growth, ensuring a return to balanced budgets with a prudent economic plan, and ensuring Canada comes out of the global recession stronger than ever.
Michael Ignatieff can propose all sorts of new taxes, but the only thing it proves is that he’s not in it for Canadians. He’s just in it for himself.
Earlier this week, Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff attended an event at O’Donel High School in Mount Pearl, NL. At the event, a giant banner with the logo of the partisan Spenders Conference, organized and paid for by the Liberal Party, was prominent.
This was apparently against the local school board’s own stated policy on political campaigning in schools (attached below).
Now he’s at it again today at a local high school in Winnipeg, once again promoting his partisan Spenders Conference to high-school kids.
Ignatieff’s Liberals shouldn’t use our kids to promote their political agenda. It just demonstrates that Ignatieff isn’t in it for Canadians. He’s just in it for himself.
9. In general, political candidates, or their representatives, will not be permitted to campaign in school during school hours. If however, the political process is included among the curriculum outcomes of a particular grade or course, candidates may be granted access to students provided that the opportunity is extended to all political parties and/or candidates and each is given equal time to present their views in an educational context. It will be the responsibility of the school official to ensure that the presentations are suitable and respectful to the given audiences and they are conducted without any bias.
On Tuesday, Rob Nicholson, Canada’s Minister of Justice was joined by Minister Paradis and Senator Boisvenu to announce legislative amendments that would strengthen the way the young offenders system deals with violent and repeat young offenders.
This bill is entitled Sébastien’s Law, in memory of Sébastien Lacasse. It honours his parents, Line and Luc and other courageous families who have fought tirelessly for the rights of victims and to make a difference in the lives of others.
The proposed amendments to the young offenders legislation would:
- Make the protection of Canadian communities a primary goal;
- Simplify the rules to keep violent and repeat young offenders off the streets while awaiting trial, when necessary to protect society;
- Require the courts to consider adult sentences for youth convicted of the most serious and violent crimes – murder, attempted murder, manslaughter and aggravated assault;
- Allow the courts to give more appropriate sentences to other violent and repeat offenders – using existing sanctions in a way that would discourage a young offender from offending again; seeking a custodial sentence when necessary; imposing a custodial sentence for behaviours that puts the lives of other community members at risk; and
- Require the courts to publish the name of a violent young offender if necessary for the protection of society.
In cases when young offenders have been convicted of the most serious crimes, the provinces and territories will still have the discretion to set an age of requirement to consider adult sentences. This legislation would also ensure that offenders under the age of 18 who have been sentenced to custody will be placed in youth facilities – even if they receive adult sentences.
Canadians deserve to feel safe and secure in their communities. In bringing forward this bill, our Conservative Government is working to keep Canadians safe, and acknowledging the sacrifices of all Canadian families who have experienced youth violence.
