TORONTO– Liberal caucus members will hold three town halls today with concerned citizens on what the Conservative government is hiding from Canadians about issues pertaining to citizenship and immigration. This includes Super Visas, the freeze on parental sponsorships, cuts to overall immigration and the recent Conservative announcement on foreign credential recognition.

“Under the Conservative government, the refusal rate of visitor visas has skyrocketed, there has been a freeze on parental sponsorship, and this year alone, they estimate cutting the number of immigrants admitted to Canada by 30,000,” said Liberal Citizenship and Immigration critic Kevin Lamoureux. “With their majority government, the Conservatives are choosing to ignore all the hard-working new Canadians who elected them based on their empty promises.”

The Conservatives have returned to their Reform Party roots, a party known for its anti-immigrant policies. In contrast, the Liberal Party of Canada, when in government, worked closely with immigrant communities to create a fair and flexible immigration system. Indeed, more families have been reunified by Liberals than by any other party in Canadian history.

“While the Harper Conservatives say that they are the party of family values, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney has proved that this is not so,” said Liberal Multiculturalism critic Jim Karygiannis.  “The family, which includes grandparents, is the very foundation of many of our multicultural communities.  Liberals believe that to keep families apart is morally and ethically wrong.”

In addition to Mr. Lamoureux and Mr. Karygiannis, Liberal Members of Parliament Kirsty Duncan, John McCallum, Frank Valeriote and John McKay will be in attendance at the town halls.