“I'm not going to give the number you want. Instead here are some big numbers about applications and investigations.”
What they said. What they meant.
Plain-language translations from the House of Commons.
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A bill to make many changes to Canada's immigration and border control laws. During debate, Conservatives asked questions about specific cases and raised concerns about fraud, while the Liberal minister responded but often discussed unrelated topics like Canada Summer Jobs and praised a Liberal colleague.
“Stop dodging. I want to pin you down to a number.”
“I've already answered. I'm not going to keep repeating myself just because you don't like what I said.”
“Who makes the refugee rules: Parliament, you, or the IRB chair? I want you to admit you're in charge.”
“I'm saying hello instead of answering your question.”
“You're hiding behind the IRB's independence. I'm asking whether Parliament has any role left in setting refugee policy.”
“The IRB is independent. It follows laws that are out of our hands. I won't say what role Parliament has.”
“If someone who isn't a citizen commits a serious crime, should they have to leave Canada?”
“I don't want to say yes or no to your actual question. Let me just make a vague statement about laws and courts and how there are consequences for criminals.”
“You dodged the question. I'll ask again more directly so it's harder to dodge. If Parliament says serious criminals must leave Canada, should the Immigration and Refugee Board do the opposite and help them stay?”
“You're asking me a hard question. I don't want to answer directly. Let me say the IRB is independent and hope that's enough to change the subject.”
“Laws exist. The Immigration and Refugee Board might be doing the opposite. I want the minister to tell me if that's a problem.”
“I'm going to ignore your question about whether refugee policy and the IRB are at odds. If a person commits a crime, border agents can investigate. I won't say whether there's a problem.”
“I want to know if you signed off on these new rules that make it easier for serious criminals to delay being kicked out of Canada. Did you approve them yourself?”
“I'm going to dodge your question about my personal involvement. The IRB is independent. They have to follow the law. They're just following the law.”
“I want to make it sound like we handle crimes by immigrants well. I hope this answer dodges your real question.”
“You're dodging the question. Tell me who really picks the IRB members.”
“I want to make this process sound official and complicated so you'll stop asking questions.”
“That sounds official and complicated, but you're still the one who picks them. Do you like that your appointees can delay deporting criminals?”
“I want to dismiss that article. Those rules don't really let criminals delay hearings.”