Citizenship and Immigration Committee on May 17th, 2006

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Andrew, please.

[Andrew Telegdi, Liberal, Kitchener—Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Jean, there are a couple of questions I would like you to clarify for me.

I really don't know, from the budget, which parts of the previous government's commitment this government is going to meet. Budget 2005 had $561 million committed to new spending, the fiscal update was $1.3 billion, and there was a further announcement by the minister of $947 million. I'm sure you're familiar with those figures.

My question is, which one of those funding announcements is the government not going to meet?

[Daniel Jean]

If you want a very precise answer with numbers, we can give that to you in writing. But in general, the new investments announced in the 2005 budget are all in there. The Canada-Ontario is in there as well, and what was announced in terms of supplementary funding in the last budget will come in subsequent years. However, if you want a very precise answer to your question, we would be happy to give that to you in writing.

[Andrew Telegdi, Liberal, Kitchener—Waterloo, ON]

We had a $1.3-billion announcement, and $920 million was for the Province of Ontario. An agreement was signed. For the other provinces, the agreement wasn't signed. Is that being acted upon?

[Daniel Jean]

In the budget announcement of a few weeks ago—

[Andrew Telegdi, Liberal, Kitchener—Waterloo, ON]

It was in the fiscal update, the $1.3 billion announcement over five years for Immigration.

[Daniel Jean]

Yes, but in the budget announcement a few weeks ago, the rest of it, outside of Ontario....

[Andrew Telegdi, Liberal, Kitchener—Waterloo, ON]

A few weeks ago? No, no.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

It was last fall.

[Andrew Telegdi, Liberal, Kitchener—Waterloo, ON]

It's the last fiscal update of the Liberal government. I'm not talking about the budget.

[Daniel Jean]

What I'm trying to say is that the Canada-Ontario agreement and extra settlement integration funds for services in other provinces were part of the budget last month. Those remain on the books, if you wish.

[Andrew Telegdi, Liberal, Kitchener—Waterloo, ON]

The $56 million for action against racism, is that on?

[Daniel Jean]

Yes, it's still on.

[Andrew Telegdi, Liberal, Kitchener—Waterloo, ON]

The $72 million for processing parents and grandparents, is that on?

[Daniel Jean]

Yes. That was two-year funding, and we are in the second year of that funding.

[Andrew Telegdi, Liberal, Kitchener—Waterloo, ON]

And the $50 million for international students?

[Daniel Jean]

Yes, we're implementing that.

[Andrew Telegdi, Liberal, Kitchener—Waterloo, ON]

And $69 million over two years to make citizenship application faster?

[Daniel Jean]

Yes.

[Andrew Telegdi, Liberal, Kitchener—Waterloo, ON]

And the $700 million over five years to reduce the applicant inventory?

[Daniel Jean]

That one is not there.

[Andrew Telegdi, Liberal, Kitchener—Waterloo, ON]

That's not there, okay. So it's $700 million that we're.... Okay, it's good to know.

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Conservative, Norman Doyle]

Madame Faille, please.

[Meili Faille, Bloc, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

I wish to thank the officials from the department for their presentation. The document is more interesting than the last time, and I like the layout.

I have a few questions on the refugee section. I do not know if you are able to answer them if you prefer that I address them to the head of the IRBC.

[Daniel Jean]

That all depends on your questions, Ms. Faille.