Evidence of meeting #54 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was cases.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Manager, Citizenship Case Review, Case Management Branch, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
We have asked the RCMP to help us fast-track fingerprints.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
So if I were to call the RCMP folks, they would say to me that you have asked them to fast-track these applications?
Manager, Citizenship Case Review, Case Management Branch, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Yes.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Please be careful, because I've got one particular case, and I caution you, you're giving testimony to the committee.
Manager, Citizenship Case Review, Case Management Branch, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Yes.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Have you reached out to that department, RCMP and CSIS, and asked them to fast-track lost Canadians, yes or no?
Director, Legislation and Program Policy, Citizenship Branch, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
I believe the answer has been yes.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Okay. I was talking today to an individual who works for another department of the Canadian government, and she was told eight months. This was not yesterday; it was today, this morning.
Manager, Citizenship Case Review, Case Management Branch, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
She was told that. And was she one of these lost Canadians?
Manager, Citizenship Case Review, Case Management Branch, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
I'd have to look into the specifics of the case.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
This individual works for another department that needs to have clearances up and down.
Manager, Citizenship Case Review, Case Management Branch, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
I'm not aware of the specific case.
Liberal
Manager, Citizenship Case Review, Case Management Branch, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Okay, thanks.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Now, will you also be doing promotions in other countries, such as the U.K., for war babies, as we have a lot of them that would be over there who might not know and would want to know?
Acting Director, Citizenship and Immigration Program Delivery, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
As I mentioned, we're updating our websites, and the promotional paper material that we'll make available will be sent to our missions around the globe.
Director, Legislation and Program Policy, Citizenship Branch, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
I might add, Mr. Chair, as well, that the minister indicated, when she was here at committee, that the priority at the moment is those individuals who are in Canada and who have spent the majority of their time in Canada.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Mr. Goodman, you said if somebody walks into an immigration centre—Can you please tell me the last immigration centre that you walked into in which you saw a friendly face and people who were able to answer your questions? Name me one, please.
That's what I figured. You don't have one.
Acting Director, Citizenship and Immigration Program Delivery, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
No, I would say to that, Mr. Chairman, that we pride ourselves on trying to be client-centred and to serve the public. This is our role.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Mr. Goodman, again, you said coming in, walking in. Is there a centre where somebody can walk in?
No, there isn't.
Acting Director, Citizenship and Immigration Program Delivery, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Right now, we do have a mail-in process for people—
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
So there's nobody who can walk in. There are no walk-in centres right across this country. Correct?
Acting Director, Citizenship and Immigration Program Delivery, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
There is no walk-in; however, I have dealt with a case in British Columbia where someone did happen to come in and speak to someone. What we did in that case was advise the local offices that if they encounter people coming in—
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
I'll send you the statement from that individual and the reaction in that particular office. I will share it with you, sir.