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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

During question period on immigration, Conservatives asked about an agreement the Prime Minister announced with the European Union, saying the government had not given details in the House, asking how many people might come to Canada under it, and raising concerns about the EU’s border controls and the state of the immigration system. Liberals replied that there is no open borders pact with the EU, that the arrangement concerns trade and closer transatlantic relations, including goals to expand non-U.S. trade and farm and energy exports, and that Canada remains in control of its own immigration system.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

4 statements

Michelle Rempel Garner

Conservative
“The Prime Minister is hiding details about an open borders deal with the European Union. He will not let his immigration minister answer questions about it. I want to know how many more non-citizens will enter Canada under this deal, who they will be, and how this will affect the provinces.”

  • Opposition question in Question Period

    Respect 82 of 100

    This statement targeted a person rather than their actions or views: “If he has nothing to hide, why will he not let her stand up?”.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I think it is very telling that the Prime Minister will not even let his immigration minister give basic details about an open borders pact with the EU. If he has nothing to hide, why will he not let her stand up? The reality is he made an announcement in the European parliament. He is not giving our press gallery details about it in our papers or in interviews here. Canadians deserve answers. How many more non-citizens will come into the country? What will be the categories of non-citizens and what does this mean for provinces, like Alberta or Quebec, that are asking for more control over immigration levels?

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Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“There is no open borders deal with the European Union, and there will not be one. This deal is about trade. It will help us double our trade with countries other than the U.S. in the next ten years, and sell more farm and energy products to Europe.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Clarity 43 of 100

    Much of this statement used imprecise wording, lacked details on timing or responsibility, or made broad claims without support.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, there is not and will not be an open borders pact with the European Union. What there will be is an enhanced relationship, which will keep this country on track to more than double its non-U.S. trade in the next decade. That will happen. We will have better and closer relations with our European partners. We will have closer economic ties. We will send more Canadian products, farm products and energy products, to Europe, and we will absolutely continue to work with our cousins in the European Union to keep moving forward.

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Luc Berthold

Conservative
“The Liberals broke an immigration system that worked well. The Prime Minister told a foreign newspaper he wants more immigration, but he did not tell Parliament. Now he is making deals with the European Union, which has lost control of its own borders. I want the Prime Minister to explain his agreement with the European Union, and whether Canada is kicking out immigrants who follow the rules to make room for people from Europe.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, it is high time that the Liberals and the Prime Minister explained the Liberals’ gross hypocrisy on immigration. Over the course of 11 years, the Liberals dismantled a system that was working well. The Prime Minister told the New York Times, but not the House, that it is time to increase immigration. Meanwhile, he is drawing closer to the European Union, which, coincidentally enough, has also lost control of immigration and lost track of millions of people. What is the agreement with the European Union? Is Canada deporting immigrants who follow the rules because ministers have mishandled the file, all to make room for more immigrants from the European Union?

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Lena Metlege Diab

Liberal
“Canada controls its own immigration system. No one else tells us what path to take. Working closely with our transatlantic partners will make us more independent.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Clarity 25 of 100

    Much of this statement used imprecise wording, lacked details on timing or responsibility, or made broad claims without support.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, what Canadians need to know is that we are masters in our own house. We are focusing on maintaining balance and control over our immigration system. Just as the Prime Minister said in Strasbourg, no one dictates the path Canada should take. Canada is working to establish a closer transatlantic partnership that will give us greater independence in a changing world.

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