Evidence of meeting #3 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was haiti.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:25 p.m.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
So that's 130 as a whole, in two months, since the earthquake. If I were to do some calculations, that would be 80 per month, roughly speaking. So we have 5,000 cases to go?
4:25 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Operations, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
First of all, the adoptees are not in that. All the work that we did to support the repatriation of Canadian citizens and permanent residents—
4:25 p.m.
Liberal
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
4:25 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Operations, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
How many cases do we presently have on the go?
At the time of the earthquake we had 2,900 permanent resident cases in the process in Port-au-Prince. That's all categories, including skilled workers. Now, with the opening of Santo Domingo we're moving 547 of those cases because they're Dominican Republic cases. There's a handful of cases from the French islands and so on that have been moved to Port-au-Prince.
4:25 p.m.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
But of the new additions, how many cases do we have with them altogether?
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
You have to be patient, Mr. Karygiannis. She's moving along.
Thank you.
4:25 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Operations, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
I don't know that I said 5,000. I'm trying to find, if anybody can help me, the Mississauga processing numbers.
4:25 p.m.
Liberal
4:25 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Operations, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
If they're sponsorships they start in Mississauga and then they move to the Ottawa office. It's a two-step process. You need to get your sponsorship assessed.
I'm just trying to find that number for you. Okay, we have approximately 5,000 cases, 2,000 of them for non-Quebec and 3,000 for Quebec.
4:25 p.m.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
So 5,000. If we take the speed of light, which is 80 cases per month, 5 divided by 80... I hate to guess how long it will take us.
My question is why, with India, China, Burma, Sri Lanka, and...I've been in the islands; have we not learned? Why don't we have something in place so that when this hits, it automatically happens with the department? I remember writing to the predecessor of Mr. Kenney. I asked why we didn't have a protocol. I was answered, in writing, that nothing like this is required. If Mother Nature is hitting us time and time again, why has the department not learned? Why don't we have something in place in order to have our loved ones—Canadian planes are flying back. Why can we not give minister's permits to the people who we're sponsoring to get on those planes and come up to Canada?
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
Well, you're now at five and a half minutes, so I'm afraid not. You will have another opportunity—
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
I'm sure, Mr. Chair, you want to give the witnesses an opportunity to answer a very important question.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
4:30 p.m.
Bloc
Ève-Mary Thaï Thi Lac Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
Good afternoon ladies. Thank you for being here today to answer our questions.
I would like to begin with a question that my colleague, Mr. St-Cyr, had started to ask you concerning visas for temporary visitors. We have spoken at length this afternoon about applications for sponsorship and permanent residents. Regarding temporary visa applications, the minister has the power to issue such temporary permits.
I have been dealing with immigration files for over 15 years and recall the time when Mr. Coderre was the minister.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
Things ran smoothly back then. Those were good times. As a matter of fact, this lady worked with me.
4:30 p.m.
Bloc
Ève-Mary Thaï Thi Lac Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
Some visas were issued with the explicit mention that people could not submit refugee claims or permanent residency applications. Those visas were signed by the minister. You say that the current minister has not signed any such visas for temporary visitors.
As Mr. St-Cyr pointed out, there are many cases where people come to Canada but wish to return to their country, and have no qualms about committing to do so. Why is the minister so reluctant to issue such visas, which would greatly help those people come to Canada more quickly, especially since they would commit to leaving the country voluntarily?
4:30 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Operations, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Officials from the department are studying each case and they are being as flexible as they can. The fact that someone makes a commitment to leave or that he will not file a refugee claim does not really, under the Immigration Act —
4:30 p.m.
Bloc
Ève-Mary Thaï Thi Lac Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
Excuse me, perhaps I did not put my question very well. Perhaps it was not specific enough. At the time, the member of Parliament could make a commitment to the minister and guarantee that person. The member would say that the person would be returning home. As MPs we no longer have this option, even if we tell the minister that we want to become a guarantor by putting down our name and saying that this person is coming on a temporary basis.
Why do we no longer have the option of making this request so that people can be allowed to come here temporarily?
4:30 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Operations, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Mr. Chair, I think that this question is not really one that can be answered by public servants.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
It is also probably a political question. You may have to put that question to the minister the next time he arrives. I really think it's inappropriate to ask this witness that question. The minister will eventually come here and you are free to ask him that question. I'm not going to allow that question of this witness.
Do you have a point of order, Mr. Karygiannis?