OTTAWA - The government's controversial immigration and refugee bill will now make its way to the Senate despite opposition outrage.
Bill C-31, the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, cleared the House of Commons Monday by a 159-132 vote after the Conservatives used their majority to pass the bill.
The Tories say the bill follows up on an election commitment to bring in "legislative tools to combat human smuggling criminals who want to treat Canada like a doormat."
"We hope that this bill will become law before the summer break as it passes to the Senate," Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said. "This bill will also further strengthen our reforms of Canada's asylum system to make sure that it's fast and fair, and will allow for us to improve immigration security screening significantly through legislative authority for biometric visa collection. So it's very important legislation."
The legislation will allow the government to detain "irregular applicants" unable to provide identification upon arrival.
Once the identity of a claimant is established and a refugee claim is approved, they will be released.
more
Tory immigration bill passes in Commons | Canada | News | Toronto Sun
Bill C-31, the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, cleared the House of Commons Monday by a 159-132 vote after the Conservatives used their majority to pass the bill.
The Tories say the bill follows up on an election commitment to bring in "legislative tools to combat human smuggling criminals who want to treat Canada like a doormat."
"We hope that this bill will become law before the summer break as it passes to the Senate," Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said. "This bill will also further strengthen our reforms of Canada's asylum system to make sure that it's fast and fair, and will allow for us to improve immigration security screening significantly through legislative authority for biometric visa collection. So it's very important legislation."
The legislation will allow the government to detain "irregular applicants" unable to provide identification upon arrival.
Once the identity of a claimant is established and a refugee claim is approved, they will be released.
more
Tory immigration bill passes in Commons | Canada | News | Toronto Sun