HANSARD: Would the Liberal member support the call for the government to lift the arbitrary Afghan cap?
Debates of June 12th, 2023, 6:10 p.m.
House of Commons Hansard #211 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session.
House of Commons Hansard #211 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session.
Justice and Human Rights
Committees of the House
Routine Proceedings
Jenny Kwan Vancouver East, BC
Committees of the House
Routine Proceedings
Jenny Kwan Vancouver East, BC
NDP
Madam Speaker, the issue around Afghans and bringing them to safety is something that is top of mind for many of us. In fact, just outside of West Block, there is an individual whose family members are being left behind. He was someone who served Canada, but is still not able to bring his loved ones here.
The government put a cap on the number of Afghans, who had helped serve Canada to complete our missions. As a result, many people have not been able to bring their loved ones to safety. Would the member support the call that the government should lift that arbitrary cap that it put in place?
Mark Gerretsen Kingston and the Islands, ON
Liberal
Madam Speaker, the issue around Afghans and bringing them to safety is something that is top of mind for many of us. In fact, just outside of West Block, there is an individual whose family members are being left behind. He was someone who served Canada, but is still not able to bring his loved ones here.
The government put a cap on the number of Afghans, who had helped serve Canada to complete our missions. As a result, many people have not been able to bring their loved ones to safety. Would the member support the call that the government should lift that arbitrary cap that it put in place?
Mark Gerretsen Kingston and the Islands, ON
Liberal
Madam Speaker, I heard this question being asked of my Conservative colleague before me.
I recognize that my NDP colleague refers to it as an “arbitrary cap”. However, I do not know that to be a fact. I do not believe that the government would just arbitrarily pick a number out of a hat. I imagine that there is some logic to it and some thought that went into it.
Having said that, I certainly support doing as much as we absolutely can in getting as many people out as we absolutely can. If there is the availability to do more than what we have been able to do at this point, then I would certainly support that. I do respect that the government makes decisions based on various reasons and, notwithstanding that I have not heard all of the reasons, I will prevent myself from commenting too much on exactly where I believe that number should be without having heard all of the arguments.
