Evidence of meeting #16 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 39th Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was removal.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Wajid Khan Conservative Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
This is happening. Is there any attention being paid to this, or is there any policy under consideration for changes to these fraudulent marriage cases?
Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Operations, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
I think the circumstance you're describing is at the heart of why we put in the effort we do in trying to make a determination on the validity, the bona fides, of a relationship. There's no magic formula to determine, as an immigration officer, whether a relationship is truly genuine and going to last for the long term. Clearly that's the objective. It is delicate, and the kinds of questions that have to be asked in the interviews and the determination that is made—
Conservative
Wajid Khan Conservative Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
I'm not saying that the determination is improper. What I'm saying is that the person has been sponsored as a spouse, the person has landed in Canada, and the spouse has not even come to receive him or her at the airport. It was a prearranged fraudulent marriage, and they are here in Canada. What do we do with those people who have landed here under the pretext of marriage?
Director, Social Policy and Programs, Immigration Branch, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
There are provisions under the regulations for investigation in those circumstances.
Do you want to speak to any of those?
Director, Inland Enforcement, Canada Border Services Agency
First of all, people who are not Canadian, so permanent residents and foreign nationals, can be reported and, if found inadmissible, may be removed from Canada. In addition, those who aid and abet those types of activities can be criminally charged under the immigration legislation and can serve a prison sentence. We take security and safety very seriously and do our best to ensure that the laws are respected.
Conservative
Wajid Khan Conservative Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
I'm glad you take security and safety seriously, because it is an important consideration, but the fact of the matter is that those people are here fraudulently and nothing is being done about them. Even if they're reported, they're here for years and years. There's not one or two; there are lots of them here. They're working illegally in the underground economy, and this has become a business for them. These reports are coming on a regular basis. Who should they be reported to and what process will be followed thereafter?
Director, Inland Enforcement, Canada Border Services Agency
The priorities for the immigration enforcement activities are those who pose a risk to national security, so your terrorist types. Next come those involved in organized crimes, crimes against humanity, and criminals. Once we've looked after those people, we go after failed refugee claimants, and then all others--those who overstay, and those who work, study, or misrepresent themselves, including marriages of convenience--are our lowest priority.
Conservative
Wajid Khan Conservative Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
With respect to those students who come here, go to university for three or four years, graduate, have a work permit, and go to work, are they given any preference as far as their landing status is concerned? If they wish to stay here, they are now pretty much integrated. They know the system, live in Canada, work in Canada, are educated here. Would they have a higher priority than those who are wanting to come in from outside the country?
Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Operations, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
As you may recall, the government announced in budget 2007 the intent to introduce the Canadian experience class, which is an avenue through which individuals who are here working in status or studying in status, subject to certain conditions or criteria that are being finalized and will be published in regulations, will have the opportunity to be able to apply from within Canada to remain here on a permanent basis. We hope to be in a position to have that program in place later this year.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle
Thank you, Mr. Khan.
Mr. Karygiannis, for five minutes, and then we'll go back to the Conservatives.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Thank you.
I just want to go back over it. You're with CBSA, and not with Immigration, correct?
Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Operations, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
I'm with Immigration.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Thank you very much.
The question I have is on GTEC. Ms. Kramer, can you tell me what GTEC stands for?
Director, Inland Enforcement, Canada Border Services Agency
Greater Toronto Enforcement Centre.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
I'm glad you know.
What's the length of the process, from the time somebody's file ends up in GTEC—the spousal application—to the time he or she is removed?
Director, Inland Enforcement, Canada Border Services Agency
Spousal applications don't go to GTEC. It's an enforcement centre.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
I'm sorry, this is somebody who is to be removed. A spousal application is in process in Vegreville, you have a removal order, and the files end up in GTEC. How long does it take before you remove that person, from the time it goes to GTEC to the time you kick him out of Canada?
Director, Inland Enforcement, Canada Border Services Agency
For an ordinary case, it would take two to three years. For a criminal, it would take less than a year.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Again, I'm going to put my question very simply, very straightforwardly. It's GTEC, not from the time the person comes into Canada and applies for refugee--
Director, Inland Enforcement, Canada Border Services Agency
No, it's from the time the removal order is issued.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
From the time the files goes to GTEC to the time you kick the person out of Canada, what's the length of time?
Director, Inland Enforcement, Canada Border Services Agency
The file would go to GTEC as soon as a report is written for inadmissibility, but once the removal order is written and the person has been found not to be admissible, it takes two to three years to remove someone, for an ordinary person, and for a high-priority removal it would take less than a year.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Let me see if I comprehend this. The files in GTEC take two to three years to process. Is that what I'm hearing from you?