That's fine. As you know, I'm one of the loudest in Parliament.
We had a situation last year in the city of Saskatoon. For several decades, the Optimist Club had put on Canada Day and we did a new citizenship ceremony with Canada Day. The Optimist Club, after many decades, decided they were tired of doing Canada Day. It's unfortunate, because in our city we're nearing 300,000. We are the largest city in the province and we welcome citizenship. The Optimist Club just ran out of steam, and we haven't done a very good job, in my estimation, on Canada Day and what it means.
I go to the Amadiyyas. I go to the Islamic Association. That in itself is a big change in my community. Last year I had two invitations for Canada Day, from the Islamic Association and the Amadiyyas. We didn't have a real Canada Day because the Optimist Club, after many decades of putting on one in Diefenbaker Park....
I know that department officials check boxes off and you send it in, but I've cried with families on stage. I have seen the impact of real live citizenship ceremonies. I've seen some people who have lived here for years who decide, at the moment, that they need to be a Canadian citizen today, and this is a big moment for me. I've seen some, of all colours, wait two or three years to have their families together on the stage with us. Don't take that away from people.
I think that as parliamentarians, we have an obligation to go to these ceremonies. I hope all of us have gone to ceremonies, because if you haven't, you're missing out, and shame on you. We need to be at these ceremonies. You need to be in front of new Canadians. It doesn't matter who they vote for; they have come to this country, and every one of us around this table, including the Bloc, should be at citizenship ceremonies. These are new Canadians. These are people who have put trust not only in our country but in our institutions.
That's all I'm going to say, Madam Chair. I am deeply concerned about this and I am disappointed in the immigration department, knowing that in my province of Saskatchewan, when I show up, we're hugging. The immigration officials are hugging me, saying, “Mr. Waugh, thank you for coming. We appreciate you”, or Mr. Redekopp or Mr. Tochor.
These are big moments in the lives of new Canadians. Don't take that away from them.
Madam Chair, that's all I have to say on this. This is deeply moving, and it should not be done virtually anymore.