Good afternoon, Ms. Deschênes and Ms. Harder.
Ms. Deschênes, it is a pleasure to see you again. We know each other. I will begin with some specific questions. Following that, I will go more in-depth as to the very concept of what the department should be doing.
First, I want to recognize and thank the front-line workers. It was not easy, we know that. We also know that the embassy had problems. Which does not change the fact that steps had to be taken. The figures, in my opinion, do not say it all.
Am I to understand that the children that were being adopted needed a permanent visa? Because if they automatically become Canadian citizens, if you override the provisions and ensure that they legally do so, are you obliged to issue them permanent visas, 203 of them?