Parliament: Question on Government Response to US Travel Ban

Ms. Elizabeth May (Saanich—Gulf Islands, GP):

Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, at every single law school in Canada, students volunteered, doing research to figure out how they can help refugees potentially affected by President Trump’s attempt to stop their flight to safety. Now those same law students, starting at the University of Victoria, picked up on by University of Toronto, the University of Alberta, and Dalhousie law school, have written the government to ask for the immediate suspension of the safe third country agreement.

Can the Prime Minister and the minister responsible for youth hear and heed their voices?

Right Hon. Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister, Lib.):

Mr. Speaker, we are a country of immigrants and Canadians have always acted with compassion to those seeking safety for themselves and their families. We will continue to welcome people in need of protection. As I have often said, Canada is stronger not in spite of our differences but because of them, and that is why it was such source of pride that so many Canadians worked so hard to welcome over 46,000 refugees just last year.

We will continue to do everything we can to welcome people to Canada, because we know that makes us better, that makes us stronger, that makes us better off.