RIDING: PORT MOODY-WESTWOOD-PORT COQUITLAM
MARK IRELAND, NDP
I believe we have an ethical duty to help refugees to settle in Canada and integrate into society. Most refugee (and family) support groups I know of are mostly provincially funded, but federal government can obviously help with provincial funding targeted to that issue. Federal government can also help by promoting programs like the Group-of-Five sponsorship, where local residents make a financial commitment to sponsor a refugee.
KEVIN KIM,GREEN PARTY
We are a mosaic society that has always been welcoming and celebrating multicultural diversity. In an effort to help more refugees settle, it is important that we work with our municipality and the province to ensure comfortable integration of new Canadians into our country.
STEWART MCGILLIVRAY, LIBERAL
A main Liberal priority would be to significantly increase the funding of language training for new Canadians, up to $100 million above present levels by the fourth year of a Liberal government. Furthermore, we would turn a page on the Conservative policy of treating refugees like criminals and queue-jumpers. Currently, many of the Tamil refugees from last summer are still being held in detention until they can pay their smugglers, as a way of reducing their flight risk; this shows the hypocrisy of the present government as they pretend to get tough on human smuggling.
JAMES MOORE, CONSERVATIVE
Simply put, yes. On June 29, 2010 Bill C-11, the Balanced Refugee Reform Act, received Royal Assent. This legislation improves Canada's asylum system to deliver quicker decisions on claims and faster protection for those in need, and, faster removal for those who don't need Canada's protection. We have also expanded our resettlement program by increasing our targets and support so we can help those truly in need.
RIDING: NEW WESTMINSTER-COQUITLAM
DIANA DILWORTH, CONSERVATIVE
Canada has one of the best immigration and refugee systems in the world. Every year thousands of new Canadians are welcomed warmly, and find a country ready assist them. The Conservative Party has worked hard in on this issue and has constantly been listening to citizens and improving the system we inherited. Refugees have access to incredible resources upon arrival to Canada and I hope to maintain that level and continue improving it if sent to Ottawa.
FIN DONNELLY, NDP
Canada has a legal and ethical responsibility to provide asylum for convention refugees fleeing desperate situations around the world. The federal government should ensure every person living in our country has a basic standard of living.
REBECCA HELPS, GREEN PARTY
There is not adequate support for refugees and other immigrants. When we open our doors to immigration and refugees we have an obligation to that refugees and immigrants are successfully integrated into our society. If we don't there will be future consequences. We need to allocate much greater funding for training in official languages through earmarked transfers to the provinces for primary and secondary public school and free night school programs. Establish a program to deal with the estimated 200,000 people living in Canada without official status that leads to full landed immigrant status for those who have become contributing members of Canadian society.
KEN BECK LEE, LIBERAL
Liberals understand that the refugee system is broken. Waiting times are too often unacceptably long, information and communication inadequate, and procedures confusing and inefficient. Not only do we intend to improve the refugee determination process, we are committed to stimulating the new construction of affordable housing, which is something desperately needed in our riding. Extra language training and job search assistance is necessary. I greatly benefitted from federal assistance when I came to Canada in 1975.
