Evidence of meeting #35 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was pool.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Clerk of the Committee  Mr. Mike MacPherson
Anita Biguzs  Deputy Minister, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
David Manicom  Acting Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Program Policy, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Robert Orr  Assistant Deputy Minister, Operations, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Tony Matson  Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Financial Officer, Department of Citizenship and Immigration

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

We're going to start the meeting. It is now 3:30. The first thing we have to do is this. We are short one vice-chair for the moment, I think, and so the clerk is going to conduct an election.

The floor is yours, Mr. Clerk.

3:35 p.m.

The Clerk of the Committee Mr. Mike MacPherson

I was about to say that I'm prepared to receive motions for the first vice-chair, but it appears that Mr. Menegakis is...

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

Costas Menegakis Conservative Richmond Hill, ON

Mr. Clerk, I'm pleased to nominate the member of Parliament, Mr. Pierre Dionne Labelle to be the first vice-chair.

3:35 p.m.

An hon. member

I will second that.

3:35 p.m.

The Clerk

It has been moved by Mr. Menegakis that Mr. Pierre Dionne Labelle be elected as first vice-chair of the committee.

Are there any further motions?

Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?

3:35 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

3:35 p.m.

The Clerk

(Motion agreed to)

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

Congratulations, Mr. Labelle.

I should formally start the meeting. This is the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, meeting number 35, Wednesday, December 3. Pursuant to Standing Order 108, we are studying the supplementary estimates for one hour.

Before we do that, however, we need to approve the subcommittee report which is before you. We normally go in camera, but on this one occasion, because I think there's a general consensus of approval, we will approve this in open session.

Is there approval of the subcommittee report?

3:35 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

I don't see any objections, so the subcommittee report is approved.

We now have the estimates for an hour. I remind colleagues that the members from the department are here. We all know them.

We'll introduce them again: Mr. Orr, who is the assistant deputy minister of operations; Ms. Anita Biguzs, who is the deputy minister; David Manicom, who is the acting associate assistant deputy minister, strategic and program policy; Mr. Tony Matson, who is the assistant deputy minister and chief financial officer; and finally Wilma Vreeswijk, who is the associate deputy minister and chief financial officer.

Welcome to you all again.

I just remind you, colleagues, that the questions must not be of policy because the minister takes those questions.

Do you have any opening comments or do you want to get right into questions?

3:35 p.m.

Anita Biguzs Deputy Minister, Department of Citizenship and Immigration

I do, Mr. Chair. Perhaps I can very quickly just focus on the supplementary estimates items if you like.

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

Sure.

3:35 p.m.

Deputy Minister, Department of Citizenship and Immigration

Anita Biguzs

You can cut me off if I'm too long, Mr. Chair.

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

Thank you.

3:35 p.m.

Deputy Minister, Department of Citizenship and Immigration

Anita Biguzs

I am pleased to be here to present Citizenship and Immigration Canada's (CIC) supplementary estimates (B).

The most significant allocations in these supplementary estimates are for the global case management system, the immigration loans program, and for our new immigration application management system, express entry.

In vote 1, we are seeking $5.3 million in a transfer from the Canada Border Services Agency for our global case management system. These funds represent the final missing piece to make our global case management system a single interface for immigration files and transactions. They will enable us to complete the migration of one of the remaining information technology systems, the old legacy field operations support system.

Mr. Chair, the government is committed to providing protection and support to genuine refugees. Refugees often have few personal financial resources and are unable to access traditional lending institutions. The immigration loans program provides refugees with access to funding to cover a number of expenses, including travel to Canada and medical examinations required to establish a person's admissibility. In cases where loans are not repaid, the department can make a request to Treasury Board to write off the account. This option can occur when further collection expenses are unjustifiable because the amount of the debt is very small, or when the person is deceased, bankrupt, disabled, or cannot be located, for example.

So in this case Treasury Board approved writing off 1,316 uncollectible immigration loans valued at $1.1 million. The majority of these uncollected loans, 1,043, are for small amounts of less than $25. The remaining 273 accounts represent an average value of $4,183.

I'd also like to highlight that our collection rate of approximately 91%, as well as its cost of collection, compare favourably to private sector collection agencies.

Finally, the most significant allocation in these supplementary estimates is for our new immigration application management system, Express Entry.

We want to attract the world’s most ambitious and talented individuals, those who can contribute to job creation and the Canadian economy. To do so, we have worked to transform our immigration system, so that it becomes faster, fairer, and more responsive to the labour market, while maintaining Canada's well-earned reputation as a generous and welcoming nation.

To date, we have made tremendous improvements overall in terms of the system.

Perhaps I'll just turn then quickly to express entry. In budget 2014, the government announced $32.5 million in total funding for express entry. This year's amount is $6.9 million for the department, which will allow CIC to align our IT systems and perform other final preparations for the launch of express entry on January 1, 2015.

This new system will result in a much faster and more efficient service to potential skilled immigrants. It will also allow the government to be more flexible and responsive to Canada's changing economic conditions and priorities.

Essentially, Express Entry will enable CAC to more directly target the skilled newcomers with the skills and characteristics that Canada's economy needs. That is because we will be able to select the most highly-qualified candidates from a pool, rather than simply processing those who apply first.

This new approach to managing and processing applications will apply to existing economic immigration programs. If a candidate meets the criteria, they will then be ranked against others in the pool based on a comprehensive ranking system, which will consider factors linked to immigrants' economic success once in Canada.

With that, Mr. Chair, I will not go through all the remarks, but just focus on our supplementary estimates items.

Thank you for this opportunity to address the committee.

My colleagues and I would be happy to respond to any question that you may have.

3:40 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative David Tilson

Thank you, Ms. Biguzs.

Mr. Menegakis.

3:40 p.m.

Conservative

Costas Menegakis Conservative Richmond Hill, ON

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you to our deputy minister, and assistant deputy ministers and associate ministers who are here with us today. I appreciate your presentation here, and for joining us.

I see in the supplementary estimates—and as we heard as part of your presentation, Ms. Biguzs—there are funds set aside for the launch of the new express entry system. We know that immigration plays a key role in Canada's prosperity and, quite frankly, in our competitiveness on the international stage.

Can you give us an explanation of how express entry will work? It's a question that's come up over the last few days and I wonder if we can get the official explanation of how the express entry system will work from you.

3:40 p.m.

David Manicom Acting Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Program Policy, Department of Citizenship and Immigration

I'd be happy to outline the new express entry system.

First, to clarify, it's not a new immigration program, it's a new application management system that we'll be launching to ensure that our immigration system is fast, flexible, and gives Canada the opportunity to select the best skilled immigrants and respond quickly to labour force needs.

It will allow the government, the provinces and territories, and employers to actively target highly skilled immigrants for permanent residency. Under the system, candidates will first make an online submission to express their interest in coming to Canada and provide basic information about their skills and work experience. Those who meet the basic eligibility criteria of one of the federal economic programs that are part of express entry will then be ranked according to their human capital and other key characteristics. They will receive significant supplementary points if they have an approved job offer through the labour market assessment process or are nominated by a province. We will then give invitations to apply on a regular basis, each two weeks, to the right number of applicants who are most highly ranked and invite them to make an application to apply for permanent residence. This way we will be taking the best people out of the pool each time and not accumulating new inventories. When they receive their formal applications they will be processed within six months.

That's basically how the system will work. If there are further questions, I'd be happy to elaborate.

3:40 p.m.

Conservative

Costas Menegakis Conservative Richmond Hill, ON

We believe as a government that it is vital to respond to labour market needs and to work with employers to address some of those needs. Can you explain how express entry will work for employers?

3:40 p.m.

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

David Manicom

Yes, there will be a couple of different ways. Employers will eventually be able to look directly into the pool through the job bank. Applicants in the pool will be required to register with the job bank. Employers who are unable to locate first a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to fill a job will be able to make a job offer through the labour market impact assessment process operated by ESDC.

Conversely, an employer who already has identified someone abroad could invite that person to submit their expression of interest into the express entry pool and access the employee that way; or if the employer wishes to make a temporary foreign worker a permanent job offer, they could invite that employee to submit their expression of interest and be accommodated through that pathway.

3:40 p.m.

Conservative

Costas Menegakis Conservative Richmond Hill, ON

Has Citizenship and Immigration been in touch with industry, with employers? I'll tell you what I'm getting at here. How do we know this is something employers would want?

3:40 p.m.

Deputy Minister, Department of Citizenship and Immigration

Anita Biguzs

I'll just jump in before turning the floor over to Mr. Manicom.

3:40 p.m.

Conservative

Costas Menegakis Conservative Richmond Hill, ON

Sure.

3:40 p.m.

Deputy Minister, Department of Citizenship and Immigration

Anita Biguzs

We have conducted extensive employer round tables across the country over the last year. We've met with all the major employer representative organizations. We're now in the process of further round tables. We've also engaged with our provincial and territorial counterparts in joint sessions with employers, recognizing of course that provinces and territories also have relationships with employers. We have very much tried to ensure that employers are aware of the system and become familiar with how it works and we will continue to engage employers.

The great benefit for employers in this new application management system is that you will have a very responsive system, a very timely process, because we are looking at six-month processing times from the time of receiving a final application. In this sense, this should be very responsive to employers' needs in being able to fill their job or labour market requirements in a very timely way.

3:45 p.m.

Conservative

Costas Menegakis Conservative Richmond Hill, ON

Thank you.

I can tell this will be a faster, more effective, and more efficient recruitment process that will select immigrants based on the skills and attributes that Canada needs, particularly in certain parts of the country where there are acute labour shortages. It is going to be based on criteria that anticipate the immigrant's economic success as well, once they arrive here. It's important that immigrants have successful outcomes once they arrive here, particularly when they're coming through one of the economic streams.

Recently—I don't have it here with me today, but I did look at it yesterday—the details of the point system were published in the Canada Gazette. Can you explain the point system in detail?