Health Committee on Nov. 20th, 2025

[Louise Baird]

Our communications group in the department issues tweets and uses other social media to talk about immigration to Canada. Some of the things they include in that communication would be the situation in Canada. Obviously, there are a lot of things to consider if you're thinking about a big move to another country. It was part of some of those efforts to talk about not only the process in getting here but what Canada is like.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

Okay.

Does the immigration department or, in this case, the communications department pay for any advertisements promoting our health care system to non-Canadians?

[Louise Baird]

There's nothing that I am aware of. I'm not sure that I can say that categorically, but there's nothing I am aware of that would have been paid advertising.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

Could you table that information on how the communications department works with health care?

[Louise Baird]

Yes.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

Is the minister aware of these communications?

[Louise Baird]

I don't know if she would be aware. She would not be aware of some of the day-to-day routine communications that go out from the department.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

Just so that we're clear on what I'm asking to be tabled, could you table with the committee all advertisements and social media posts relating to the promotion of Canada's health care system that the immigration department has published since 2020, including all costs associated with them? Thank you.

Does the immigration department conduct a specific analysis of Canada's existing health care capacity prior to setting immigration levels, yes or no?

[Louise Baird]

I'm not sure there's a yes or no answer. I can answer it to the best of my ability.

We do extensive analysis and consultation. Looking at health care capacity was certainly one of the things we looked at, in close collaboration with provinces and territories.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

Could you table that analysis as well? That would be appreciated.

Is a labour market impact assessment required prior to approving Saudi-funded visa trainees to train in Canadian hospitals?

[Soyoung Park]

A labour market impact assessment is not required for visa trainees.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

A labour market impact assessment is a check in the system to make sure that there are no Canadians available.

[Soyoung Park]

Yes...for the temporary worker program.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

It's to assess and to make sure that there are no Canadians available to fill those spots.

[Soyoung Park]

That's correct. Under the TFW program, there is a labour market assessment test.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

Yes.

[Soyoung Park]

We also—

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

That's good.

I have another question.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you.

You have eight seconds, Mr. Mazier.

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Riding Mountain, MB]

How many work permits did the immigration department approve last year for Saudi-funded visa trainees to train in Canadian hospitals? If you don't have that information, please table it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you. The time is up.

I now go to Mr. Eyolfson for the Liberals.

You have five minutes, please.

[Doug Eyolfson, Liberal, Winnipeg West, MB]

Thank you, Chair.

This was confirmed earlier, but I want to ensure again that it's on the record, as it has been brought up again. I will confirm that these visa trainees, these Saudi residents coming in, are not taking spots away from Canadian trainees. These are extra spots funded by the Saudi government in addition to funding to the medical schools. They do not take spots from Canadians who would be training and staying. Is that correct?

[Soyoung Park]

That is correct. Those are additional spots. They're not just funded by the Saudi government—

[Doug Eyolfson, Liberal, Winnipeg West, MB]

It's by other governments as well, yes.

[Soyoung Park]

The agreements are between the medical institutions and the governments.