Discussion · Oral Questions
Brad Redekopp Conservative
“Immigration in Canada is out of control. Our trade deal with Europe strictly limits who can come here to work. Leaked documents show the Prime Minister wants to remove those limits to get closer to Europe. Will the Prime Minister promise not to change these rules?”
“Mr. Speaker, nobody believes that immigration is in control in Canada. Canada already has an existing free trade deal with Europe called CETA. Under CETA, labour mobility is strictly limited to very specific categories of EU citizens for short, defined periods. CETA explicitly does not grant access to the general labour market or allow permanent residence for people in the EU. Now, a leaked document suggests that the Prime Minister is planning to remove CETA’s narrow safeguards in this bid for a greater integration with the EU. Given the EU’s current open border crisis, this is a very bad idea. Will the Prime Minister commit to everyone in this place that he will not lift CETA’s migration standards?”
Official Hansard
Mr. Speaker, nobody believes that immigration is in control in Canada. Canada already has an existing free trade deal with Europe called CETA. Under CETA, labour mobility is strictly limited to very specific categories of EU citizens for short, defined periods. CETA explicitly does not grant access to the general labour market or allow permanent residence for people in the EU. Now, a leaked document suggests that the Prime Minister is planning to remove CETA’s narrow safeguards in this bid for a greater integration with the EU. Given the EU’s current open border crisis, this is a very bad idea. Will the Prime Minister commit to everyone in this place that he will not lift CETA’s migration standards?