Speech (House debate)

{
    "time": "2008-05-29 11:40:00",
    "attribution": {
        "en": "Mr. Ed Komarnicki",
        "fr": ""
    },
    "content": {
        "en": "<p data-HoCid=\"1125682\" data-originallang=\"en\">Mr. Speaker, the definition of what a refugee is or is not is well defined in our law and it has been interpreted by a variety of courts. The definition is well settled in the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The UNHCR has stated that our system is a model system for the rest of the world in terms of its generosity, its fairness, and the broadness of its extent.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1125683\" data-originallang=\"en\">The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees handbook calls for the consideration of whether a resister was drafted or joined the army voluntarily. Those now coming to Canada volunteered for military service. When one volunteers and then later develops some objection, that in and of itself would not allow the person to qualify as a refugee in the true sense as it is meant to mean and as it is defined. In fact, a number of individuals had the benefit of the interpretation not only by a board, but the Federal Court and the Supreme Court of Canada also commented on these issues. The handbook makes a distinction and for good reason. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1125684\" data-originallang=\"en\">At some point, as I have said, when a person goes through the process, he or she either fits the category or does not. If the person fails and receives a negative decision, our generous system has other options. There are other processes that can be used to determine, notwithstanding that, could an application still be made on humanitarian or compassionate grounds. A full hearing is entitled and on some occasions more than once. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1125685\" data-originallang=\"en\">At some point with all of these existing processes, due process must prevail. When a negative decision is received, at some point it needs to be respected. That is primarily the point we are making. It is a point that not only is well made but it is an important point if we want to ensure the continued integrity of our system and if we want to have the support of Canadians who want to see a system that is not only respected but is followed.</p>",
        "fr": "<p data-HoCid=\"1125682\" data-originallang=\"en\">Monsieur le Pr\u00e9sident, la d\u00e9finition de ce qu'est ou n'est pas un r\u00e9fugi\u00e9 est claire dans notre droit et elle a \u00e9t\u00e9 interpr\u00e9t\u00e9e par divers tribunaux. Elle est bien accept\u00e9e par le Haut Commissariat des Nations Unies pour les r\u00e9fugi\u00e9s. Le Haut Commissariat a d\u00e9clar\u00e9 que notre syst\u00e8me constitue un mod\u00e8le pour le reste du monde en raison de sa g\u00e9n\u00e9rosit\u00e9, de son caract\u00e8re \u00e9quitable et du large accueil qu'il fait aux r\u00e9fugi\u00e9s.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1125683\" data-originallang=\"en\">Selon le guide du Haut Commissariat des Nations Unies pour les r\u00e9fugi\u00e9s, il convient de se demander si l'opposant a \u00e9t\u00e9 conscrit ou s'est enr\u00f4l\u00e9 volontairement dans l'arm\u00e9e. Ceux qui viennent au Canada \u00e0 l'heure actuelle se sont port\u00e9s volontaires pour le service militaire. Le fait de se porter volontaire et de s'opposer par la suite pour une raison quelconque ne rend pas une personne admissible au statut de r\u00e9fugi\u00e9 dans le sens v\u00e9ritable du terme et selon la d\u00e9finition. En r\u00e9alit\u00e9, un certain nombre de personnes ont non seulement b\u00e9n\u00e9fici\u00e9 de l'interpr\u00e9tation d'une commission, mais de commentaires de la part de la Cour f\u00e9d\u00e9rale et de la Cour supr\u00eame du Canada. Le guide \u00e9tablit la nuance et ce, \u00e0 juste titre.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1125684\" data-originallang=\"en\">\u00c0 un certain point du processus, comme je l'ai dit, la personne est class\u00e9e dans la cat\u00e9gorie des r\u00e9fugi\u00e9s ou elle ne l'est pas. Notre syst\u00e8me, dans sa g\u00e9n\u00e9rosit\u00e9, offre d'autres choix \u00e0 la personne qui fait l'objet d'une d\u00e9cision n\u00e9gative. D'autres processus peuvent servir \u00e0 d\u00e9terminer si, nonobstant un refus, une demande pourrait \u00eatre faite pour des motifs d'ordre humanitaire. L'int\u00e9ress\u00e9 a droit \u00e0 une audience pleine et enti\u00e8re, \u00e0 plus d'une reprise dans certains cas.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1125685\" data-originallang=\"en\">Tous les processus existants doivent finalement aboutir \u00e0 l'application r\u00e9guli\u00e8re de la loi. \u00c0 un moment donn\u00e9, une d\u00e9cision n\u00e9gative doit \u00eatre respect\u00e9e. C'est surtout cet aspect que nous voulons souligner. Il importe de le faire si voulons maintenir l'int\u00e9grit\u00e9 de notre syst\u00e8me et b\u00e9n\u00e9ficier de l'appui des Canadiens, qui souhaitent le voir respect\u00e9.</p>"
    },
    "url": "/debates/2008/5/29/ed-komarnicki-4/",
    "politician_url": "/politicians/ed-komarnicki/",
    "politician_membership_url": "/politicians/memberships/1539/",
    "procedural": false,
    "source_id": "2496417",
    "h1": {
        "en": "Routine Proceedings",
        "fr": ""
    },
    "h2": {
        "en": "Committees of the House",
        "fr": ""
    },
    "document_url": "/debates/2008/5/29/",
    "related": {
        "document_speeches_url": "/speeches/?document=%2Fdebates%2F2008%2F5%2F29%2F"
    }
}