Evidence of meeting #43 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 beijing.
A recording is available from Parliament.
10:45 a.m.
Conservative
10:45 a.m.
Director General, International Region, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
I said no.
10:45 a.m.
Liberal
Borys Wrzesnewskyj Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
The number is 2,650 for the Beijing office, which is actually the highest category. Skilled workers is 2,000. Provincial nominees are 1,500 and that's basically one-third of your quota for the coming year.
When I compare that 2,650 to the Kiev office, it has a quota of 25. It's only 1.6% of the total as opposed to 28.1%. The wait times are seven or eight years as opposed to one to two years.
Do you think that in Kiev, for instance, parents and grandparents have less of a longing to be reunited with their children or grandchildren in Canada than those in places like New Delhi? Do parents, grandparents in a place like Nairobi have less of a longing to be reunified with their children and their grandchildren than those from New Delhi and Beijing?
How do we arrive at a number that is 1,000 times higher in one place than another, and where it is basically one-third of all the immigrants--the highest category, in Beijing--higher than the skilled worker class or the provincial nominee class?
10:45 a.m.
Director General, International Region, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Okay.
Yes, it is 100 times higher. The--
10:45 a.m.
Liberal
Borys Wrzesnewskyj Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
It's 1,000 times higher. It is 25 compared to 2,650.
10:45 a.m.
A voice
[Inaudible--Editor]
10:45 a.m.
Director General, International Region, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
It's 100 times, yes.
The total inventory in Kiev is 163. In Beijing it is 6,928, so that is largely the main difference. In Beijing we essentially have something in the range of 400 times the inventory we have in Kiev. That is largely the rationale for it.
With regard to categories versus other categories, we have more parents applications in Beijing than we have for skilled workers. That is partially why the target is that way.
10:45 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
We could probably go on another hour, but we have run out of time.
Mr. Gilbert, I appreciate you and your colleagues coming to provide us with comments. We have a problem with wait times in this country, and your remarks have been very helpful. On behalf of the committee, I'd like to thank you.
The meeting is adjourned.