Citizenship and Immigration Committee on Oct. 18th, 2011

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Mr. Davies will have the next five minutes, and then we'll start all over again. We'll return to seven-minute rounds after Mr. Davies.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Conceptually, Mr. Linklater, a backlog of a million can be dealt with. There are a number of tools, aren't there? One tool is capping applications, but another tool is increasing the level of admissions every year. Isn't that correct?

[Les Linklater]

There are a number of policy options available to the government, yes.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Increasing levels would be one of them.

[Les Linklater]

That is a possibility, yes.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

There was a consultation on levels done by the ministry this summer. Is that correct?

[Les Linklater]

Yes.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

The minister went across the country and talked to people to solicit their input on levels. Is that right?

[Les Linklater]

Yes.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

A letter was prepared by your department that was sent to those participants. I'm going to read from it:

Every year, we receive many more applications than can be processed resulting in large backlogs in many categories, which in turn have led to long wait times for applicants.

Later it says,

Although increasing levels would be one way to mitigate some of these pressures, it would require broad buy-in from the public, and additional funding.

Can you tell me what the results of the consultations were? Was there broad buy-in from the public?

[Les Linklater]

I think the reaction was quite mixed with regard to the overall picture. I think the consensus was that we have it about right in terms of the number of people--

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

I'm sorry, I didn't catch that.

[Les Linklater]

The plan levels are about right in terms of the number of people who are coming into Canada every year, given the economic situation, the tenuous recovery, and the needs we have to provide for in terms of settlement services.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Those were public consultations, were they not?

[Les Linklater]

The minister conducted a series of round tables, but there were also online consultations done. I think we received in the order of 5,000 submissions or more.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Could you provide this committee with information on that public consultation?

[Les Linklater]

Absolutely.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Send it to the clerk.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Send it to the clerk, of course.

One of the explicit objectives of IRPA is to see that families are reunited in Canada. Correct?

[Les Linklater]

Yes.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Do you agree that putting caps on spouses or children or even parents may be inconsistent with that goal?

[Les Linklater]

I think the department's practice of putting applications from spouses and partners into immediate processing reflects the importance that is placed on immediate family reunification.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Is the ministry considering putting any caps on applications in the family class?

[Les Linklater]

Spouses and partners, as I said, have been a priority for the department and for the minister. In terms of broader policy, discussions, or considerations, I would suggest the minister be asked on Thursday.