FT 2-01: Refugee Act, 2017 (Passed)

[Barnes]

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Mr Speaker: The next item of business is the Refugee Act 2017 and I call Mr Barnes.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

I thank the honorable Speaker for this legislation, and for his timeliness in bringing it to the floor. Speaking as the former Secretary of State for the republic, I might add that this is a wise and necessary proposal that ought to have been adopted long before now. It is undeniable that inaction on the Syrian question is no longer a tenable policy for this republic. As a world power, the chaos and bloodshed that threaten to consume that region pose a grave threat to our national interests; as human beings, the atrocities now being perpetrated by the Assad regime and the Daesh are anathema to all things decent. It is clear that, at this stage in the fighting, a military intervention is not a viable response; yet we have an obligation to those whose lives have been rent by this terrible war to do what we can to ease their suffering. It is in this spirit that I support the principle of this bill.

I do have a technical question for the sponsor : would the commission established by Section 3 be a playable or non-playable entity? I do not feel one is necessarily preferable to the other, but it would be good to know.

[Barnes]

I thank the Prime Minister for his generous support, and, to answer his question, I had not envisioned the Refugee Comission being a playable entity. I would be willing to amend the bill to make that more explicit.

[anthonyjg]

I strongly support this bill. This is a humanitarian crisis and we must do what we can to aide those who are in need.

[SUSAN CRUSHBONE]

support in principle. i'd raise the number if anything - 15 000 isn't a whole lot of people.

[RFayette]

While I am wary of the potential effects, I believe 15,000 is a reasonable number and as such I support this legislation.

[Barnes]

As an explanation, this bill was largely modeled on the Canadian refugee expansion by the Trudeau Government in 2016. Our region and Canada are of a comparable population and, I think, equally capable of handling such an increase of refugees in such a short time.  However, I am most willing to see and increase in the target number.

[Barnes]

I believe that there is consensus on this bill, and I move that the question be now put. 

[Barnes]

I have discovered that an appropriate amount of time had not elapsed for me to move for closure under the Standing Orders. Therefore, I move that the question be now put.

Order, order!

Members have twenty-four hours to object. If there is no objection, then a final vote on passage of this bill will proceed.

[Barnes]

The question is now that the bill be now passed. As many as are of that opinion, vote Aye; those opposed, No.

Division!

[Barnes]

AYE

[SUSAN CRUSHBONE]

aye

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

AYE!

[RFayette]

Aye

[anthonyjg]

Aye

[Tirnam]

Aye

[Barnes]

The Ayes to the right, six; the Noes to the left, nil. So the ayes have it, the ayes have it!

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[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

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[Barnes]

Hear, hear!