Canada-China Relations Committee on Nov. 16th, 2020

[Emmanuel Dubourg, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Thank you.

I know that Canada's immigration system is very robust and that all checks are done. There's also an element of empathy within that system. As you know, in the case of Zimbabwe and Haiti, for example, the government had put in place measures to support these individuals to facilitate their applications. I also see that in the case of Hong Kong, the minister decided that there would be no fee for applications. In other words, individuals won't have to pay to become Canadian residents.

I'd like to know to what extent you've reviewed these programs to provide assistance to the people of Hong Kong to come and contribute to our economy. I remind you that we have welcomed many Syrians. Today, these people own businesses and drive the economy. This is an invaluable contribution.

Have you tried everything to support Hong Kongers?

[Natasha Kim]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That is a good point. In terms of the measures that were announced by the minister last week, there were a range of measures aimed at not only showing solidarity with Hong Kongers but also highlighting, as the minister did, the economic objectives of our levels plan.

When we look at the measures that were implemented, the waiver of fees for those Hong Kongers who are in Canada and who wish to extend their stay is one that can facilitate their stay here in Canada. The PRRA bar exemption that we just spoke about is another one. The new pathways the minister highlighted—both the open work permit, which is a temporary pathway, and the new permanent residence streams for young Hong Kong graduates—would complement the ones we already have for those who are abroad.

Definitely there are a suite of things being proposed to facilitate things for Hong Kongers, both in Canada and abroad.

[Emmanuel Dubourg, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Yes, thank you.

I know it's not necessarily an immigration issue, but in all circumstances, it's a security issue. I talked about the robustness of the program. My understanding is that medical examinations and security background checks continue to be part of this. Otherwise, have these measures been relaxed in order to support persecuted people to Hong Kong?

[Natasha Kim]

As the minister stated, we do have an existing framework in place when it comes to both security and admissibility. That won't be changing. As that framework sets out, there are rules around that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Thank you, Ms. Kim.

Thank you very much, Mr. Dubourg.

Mr. Bergeron, you have six minutes.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Ms. Kim and Dr. Giles, for staying with us at this late hour. We really appreciate it.

As I mentioned to the minister during our last exchange, obviously there are still elements that need to be developed, and I'm convinced that you're working on it. You'll probably get recommendations that you can work on later. However, one element has been raised by my colleagues and myself so far.

While there is great willingness to welcome human rights advocates, journalists and humanitarian workers who would be concerned for their own safety in light of the application of the National Security Law, at this time, there is nothing in place in the department to deal with an extraordinary and unexpected influx of refugee protection claims from Hong Kong. I asked the minister this question just a few moments ago, because the Consul General in Hong Kong was asked this question.

Is work currently being done in government offices to respond to what may become a greater demand from refugee claimants who are not necessarily Canadians, but who actually wish to seek refuge in Canada?

[Natasha Kim]

Thank you for the question.

I'll start by saying that, again, there are many pathways when it comes to Canada's immigration system. For the protection pathways that are available, as highlighted, there are the resettlement pathways. Based on our legal framework, which models the UN convention on refugees, if someone has no other durable solution and has fled their home country, they would be eligible for resettlement, either by referral by the UNHCR or by private sponsors who have agreed to sponsor them. That is Canada's general framework when it comes to the resettlement of refugees.

For the in-Canada asylum process, someone who's in Canada can apply for asylum. Those protections exist here, and that process is there by the IRB, the Immigration and Refugee Board.

In addition to that, the other economic streams, as well as family reunification streams and the new measures that were announced last week, would be there to provide pathways for those who are in Hong Kong to come to Canada as well.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

All right. However, as I mentioned earlier, by the very admission of the Prime Minister, this measure announced last week does not constitute a humanitarian measure per se. It's more of an economic measure, if I can put it that way.

I was discussing it with the minister; spurred on by a sense of urgency, we decided to undertake this particular study on Hong Kong. I'm concerned that the existing mechanisms are not able to respond to the full range of the claims or situations that may arise in the context of the application of the National Security Law.

With the Consul General, we discussed the situation of a person seeking refuge in Canada who suddenly shows up at the Consulate General. How will they be received? Under the current legislation, will they be granted refugee protection?

Will that person be offered refugee protection or simply refused, risking arrest by the authorities of Hong Kong or the People's Republic of China?

[Natasha Kim]

Mr. Chair, within the existing international framework, when someone is in-country, in general they become the responsibility of their home country. A suite of efforts, both by the international community as well as other states, can be engaged in terms of diplomatic efforts to impact that situation.

From an immigration standpoint, we do not accept asylum claims in missions abroad from those who are still in-country, but our resettlement pathways exist. We work closely with our international partners, such as the UNHCR, to facilitate that.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

The reason we have asked the minister to appear today, and you, in turn, is precisely because we feel we need to go beyond the existing parameters. The Prime Minister recognized this himself. We need to go beyond the existing mechanisms, as they would probably not be able to meet the extraordinary needs that may arise in Hong Kong under the application of the National Security Law.

As parliamentarians, our concern—and I hope you've understood this by now—is to see whether, beyond existing mechanisms, work is being done in government offices to be able to respond to increased demand that does not fit with existing mechanisms.

[Natasha Kim]

In terms of the last comment, certainly there are these measures that are being taken, including the new pathways that were announced, that can have both humanitarian and economic benefits at the same time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr. Bergeron.

Ms. Kwan, you have six minutes, please.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Thank you to the officials.

My first question is really to try to get some basic information. I wonder if the officials can provide the following information to the committee.

How many Hong Kongers have been granted refugee status in Canada to date since 2019, and how many are in process? What is the average processing time? For those awaiting processing, are they granted an open work permit? What is the wait time for them to get an open work permit? Are there additional resources provided to facilitate expeditious processing of these applications, and if yes, how much?

[Dr. Nicole Giles]

Thank you very much for the question. I'll try to capture most of those.

In terms of the number of refugee claims that were made in 2019 to 2020, the number is zero. In terms of asylum claims for 2020, we had approximately 30 claims in the system until September 30. While people are waiting for their claims to be processed, they are able to work in Canada, and they also receive other supports.

I'm sorry. Can you please repeat the other questions?

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

I wonder if I can get the answers to these questions tabled with the committee, so I can get on with other questions, if that's okay. All those other questions will be on the Hansard record.

I'm going to move on to the next questions, if I can.

The government says it will support the 300,000 Canadians who are in Hong Kong right now. There appear to be conflicting reports as to whether or not Canadians abroad have been able to seek consular support. Can the officials advise if the Canadian government has made any effort to check in on Canadians, particularly those who might be active in the pro-democracy movement, to see if they are safe?

[Dr. Nicole Giles]

Global Affairs Canada is Canada's lead on providing protection to Canadian citizens and permanent residents abroad, but of course, we work very closely with them to provide support services. The consul general in Hong Kong remains ready, and has been providing ongoing passport and citizenship services to our clients. There has been no break in that service being provided, even during the global pandemic.

Until September 30, our IRCC offices in Hong Kong have issued nearly 5,000 passports to Canadian citizens this year. We have also supplied our office in Hong Kong with a large number of emergency travel documents, and mitigation plans are in place to ensure that passport and citizenship services continue to be provided. I understand there's been a significant amount of outreach done to Canadians in Hong Kong to ensure they have the travel documents they require.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Sorry, my question was whether or not the Canadian government has proactively reached out to Canadians who are abroad to see if they are safe—not the other way around, for them to reach out to Canadian officials for consular support. Have we proactively reached out to anyone in Hong Kong?

[Dr. Nicole Giles]

Throughout the last year, Canada's mission has completed a robust outreach campaign, encouraging Canadian citizens studying, working and living in Hong Kong to ensure they have the correct and valid travel documents. Yes, there's been quite significant outreach to Canadians.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

So, we've reached out to them to see if they have the appropriate travel documents.

[Dr. Nicole Giles]

That's correct.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Okay. Thank you.

Have we reached out to them to see whether or not they have any safety concerns?

[Dr. Nicole Giles]

Global Affairs Canada has a lead on providing the protection. I'm not sure about the content of non-immigration-related issues.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

I wonder if the officials can try to find that answer from their colleagues in Global Affairs.

The student program is limited to students who have graduated from a post-secondary institution in Canada in the last five years. What happens if you're only in year one of a four-year program? Will they be able to apply after they complete their post-secondary education, and is there a time limit for the program?

[Natasha Kim]

Final details on the pathways that have been announced will be available soon. The intent would be that these pathways would be available for a number of years, and there would be a window through which those who are eligible could apply. Those final details will be released when they are available.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

So we won't know until 2021.