When speaking at what was billed as a round table discussion with representatives of multicultural media outlets near Toronto, Stephen Harper began things with an opening statement, which in part included his view on Liberals, Conservatives and immigration.

Here’s an excerpt:

“I’m often perplexed by the myth that the Conservative party is opposed to immigration and the Liberal party has been for it. The statistics do not bear this out.

“I think if I could, ladies and gentlemen, maybe put forward to you a little theory about that. And I think it’s important.

“I spoke at the Indo-Canadian Chamber of Commerce last week, and Mr. Steve Gupta got up and made an interesting observation that I think does says something about where this myth came from.

“There has been a view among some that if the Liberal party (historically) let immigrants into the country, then voters — those voters — owe their support to the Liberal party.

“That has never been the view of the Conservative party.

“The view of the Conservative party is if you immigrate to this country, you owe your loyalty to this country, not to our party. And it is our party’s responsibility, as it is the responsibility of all parties, to go out and earn your vote, on an election by election basis, not take it for granted.”

— Paul Hunter