Evidence of meeting #32 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was countries.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Les Linklater  Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Program Policy, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Peter Hill  Director General, Post-Border Programs, Canada Border Services Agency
Jennifer Irish  Director, Asylum Policy and Programs, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Michael MacDonald  Director General, National Security Operations Directorate, Public Safety Canada
Alexandre Roger  Procedural Clerk, House of Commons
Joe Oliver  Director General, Border Integrity, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Marie Estabrooks  Manager, Biometrics Policy (programs and projects), Emerging Border Programs, Canada Border Services Agency
Chuck Walker  Director General, Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Alain Desruisseaux  Director General, Admissibility Branch, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Sean Rehaag  Assistant Professor, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, and Representative, David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights - University of Toronto
Audrey Macklin  Representative, Professor, Faculty of Law and School for Public Policy and Governance, University of Toronto, David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights - University of Toronto
Barbara Jackman  Lawyer, As an Individual

10:10 a.m.

NDP

Jinny Sims NDP Newton—North Delta, BC

Thank you. Could you make available to the committee the privacy impact assessment that has been done? That would be good.

How long do we imagine this biometric information will be stored? Once verification happens, do we get rid of it, or does that happen once temporary residency is completed, or once somebody has become a citizen, or indefinitely? Those are the kinds of questions that come up.

10:10 a.m.

Director General, Admissibility Branch, Department of Citizenship and Immigration

Alain Desruisseaux

The rules for the retention of biometrics will be determined through the regulations. What is now being considered is retaining the information for a period of 15 years or until citizenship is gained. That is the plan.

10:10 a.m.

NDP

Jinny Sims NDP Newton—North Delta, BC

That will be specified.

10:10 a.m.

Director General, Admissibility Branch, Department of Citizenship and Immigration

Alain Desruisseaux

It will be specified through the regulations.

10:10 a.m.

NDP

Jinny Sims NDP Newton—North Delta, BC

Okay, thank you very much. We will see those regulations before things proceed. I'm new, so that's why I'm asking.

10:10 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

I don't know what you means by “things proceed”. That isn't the way it works. Stop the clock for a minute.

10:10 a.m.

NDP

Jinny Sims NDP Newton—North Delta, BC

Stop the clock and help our new person.

10:10 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

You're half a minute over your time, but....

10:10 a.m.

Conservative

Rick Dykstra Conservative St. Catharines, ON

Simply to give you some information, legislation is passed, then it receives royal assent. Then it's turned over to the ministry to determine the regulations it works through. Those regulations come back to us after they're completed.

10:10 a.m.

NDP

Jinny Sims NDP Newton—North Delta, BC

I tried.

10:10 a.m.

Conservative

Rick Dykstra Conservative St. Catharines, ON

It was a good try, but....

10:10 a.m.

NDP

Jinny Sims NDP Newton—North Delta, BC

Thank you very much.

So my—

10:10 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

No, no. I'm afraid you're over.

10:10 a.m.

NDP

Jinny Sims NDP Newton—North Delta, BC

I'm over?

10:10 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

You were over before I interrupted you.

10:10 a.m.

NDP

Jinny Sims NDP Newton—North Delta, BC

Thank you.

10:10 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

Mr. Lamoureux.

10:10 a.m.

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Linklater, it is the government's intention to have biometrics implemented in all countries where they are required to have a visa in order to come to Canada. Is that correct?

10:10 a.m.

Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Program Policy, Department of Citizenship and Immigration

Les Linklater

The ultimate goal would be to ensure that we have this tool for all countries that require a visa. But what we have done with the temporary resident biometrics project is to look at a limited rollout in a first phase to ensure that the technology, the operational implications, and the service to the affected clients are going to operate well before we then return to cabinet for expansion of the mandate.

10:10 a.m.

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB

I'm actually glad to hear that. When do you anticipate that all countries would be on stream?

10:10 a.m.

Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Program Policy, Department of Citizenship and Immigration

Les Linklater

I think that will depend on a number of variables. First, with this first phase, we're looking to start the collection of biometrics in probably June or July of 2013 for a number of countries that we're looking at now. So as we test the model, make sure that things are working, and iron out any kinks, I think it will probably be about 2014 or 2015 before we then look to broaden the mandate and to go more broadly.

10:15 a.m.

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB

There are how many countries now that require visas...? About a hundred?

10:15 a.m.

Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Program Policy, Department of Citizenship and Immigration

Les Linklater

That require visas? About 140.

10:15 a.m.

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB

So in 2013 you're hoping to get it started. Is there a...?

10:15 a.m.

Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Program Policy, Department of Citizenship and Immigration

Les Linklater

It's probably about 25% to 30% coverage of the volumes, not necessarily the countries. Looking at it globally, the volume of visas that we issue is just a little over a million, so we would be looking to get coverage in the range of about 300,000 to 350,000 applicants in the first phase.