Health Committee on Nov. 20th, 2025

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

My assistant still does not have access to it. That is why I want to make this official.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

You do not have access still. All right. We will ensure that you get access.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Thank you.

I will now ask the witnesses my questions.

Ms. Voisin, in your opening remarks, you said that professionals face costly obstacles. That is what I noted. Indeed, there is a cost associated with the recognition of a degree. Moreover, as we all know, issues of economic immigration and degree recognition fall under Quebec’s jurisdiction.

Tax measures are a federal responsibility. Could they be implemented to support immigrant professionals during their studies or their efforts to have their qualifications or titles recognized?

[Jocelyne Voisin]

I would say yes. As you mentioned, there are obstacles.

When a professional submits an application to various regulatory bodies, among others, it costs them money. It also takes time, because they have to find all their documents. Depending on their country of origin, it is not always easy to obtain all the documents they need. There are costs associated with the application.

As for tax measures, I’m not sure I understand what you’re referring to.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

When someone comes here to take classes, they are not working. Often, these individuals do not have a lot of savings to live on and pay for housing or groceries.

Could we acknowledge that there is a cost associated with all of this? When people arrive here, they cannot work. They also have to take a French language course—I hope to have time to revisit this issue with a representative from the Department of Immigration.

I want to ensure that it is possible to implement tax measures to support them during this process.

[Jocelyne Voisin]

Ms. Baird could perhaps tell you about the services the department offers to immigrants, to those arriving in the country.

What I can say is that some provinces offer support programs to professionals who come to their province.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

The federal government could also put measures in place to help them. Otherwise, people get discouraged and they give up on their journey. That’s why, in the end, they don’t get their qualifications or diplomas recognized. We can’t leave all the burden on Quebec; we have to help these people and support them along the way.

I will now move on to the important issue of francization.

Do you plan to improve the 1991 agreement to include funds that would be allocated to francization?

[Louise Baird]

Under the Canada-Quebec Accord, a payment is made to Quebec so that it can provide settlement and integration services. Each year, financial compensation is paid by the federal government for these services, including francization services.

In 2024-25, Quebec received $867.3 million.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

However, there are still students who face financial barriers. They arrive here, but they don’t have enough money to live on while they wait for their degrees to be recognized or while they learn French. All of this comes at a cost.

It is true that money has been invested in this area. However, do you agree that, when it comes to francization, the needs are even greater and that we may need to improve the 1991 Quebec-Canada Accord, particularly with regard to the issue of francization?

The language issue is a barrier in Quebec. It would therefore be important to ensure that more funds are allocated to this area.

[Louise Baird]

These are services provided by the government of Quebec. However, the federal government makes a payment to the provincial government for these services, an annual compensation that includes language services, such as francization.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

This agreement could still be improved.

It is true that Quebec is responsible for francization, but the Quebec-Canada Accord could be improved so that Quebec can fulfill its responsibility in this area.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you very much.

I would like to repeat to the committee that all questions or inquiries, anything you want, should go through the chair. Thank you.

Now we go to the second round. It's a five-minute round.

Mr. Mazier, for the Conservatives, you have five minutes, please.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

Thank you, Chair.

Through the chair, according to the immigration department, the government is planning to admit 395,000 permanent residents and 673,650 temporary residents into Canada this year. Is this correct, yes or no?

[Louise Baird]

Yes, those are the numbers from last year's plan.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

That's over one million people. How many of these people are doctors?

[Louise Baird]

I don't have that number.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

Is there any information on that? Do you do an analysis on that?

[Soyoung Park]

I provided some numbers earlier, but so far in 2025, under permanent residents, there have been over 9,000 admitted in health care. I would have to look up exactly what.... It depends on what you mean by—

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

Do you have that information for doctors?

[Soyoung Park]

For doctors, I can tell you that for—

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

If you could just table that information, the breakdown, that would be great.

[Soyoung Park]

I believe we've already responded to a request that breaks it down by family physicians and specialists in surgery and clinical medicine.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

If you haven't tabled it to the committee, could you please table that to the committee?

[Soyoung Park]

Yes.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

Thank you.

On October 13, the immigration department made a post on social media to promote Canada's free health care system to potential newcomers. It was viewed on Twitter almost two million times worldwide. Who approved this post when 6.5 million Canadians don't have access to a family doctor?