Citizenship and Immigration Committee on Oct. 1st, 2012

[Salim Mansur]

I would hope so, but in the place of origin of this gentleman, they wouldn't have the technology to put in the biometrics. I think that is precisely the problem we're dealing with: the numbers, the source origin. That has changed in terms of what was at one time the pattern of immigration from Europe. Now the pattern of immigration is predominantly from third world countries.

[Roxanne James, Conservative, Scarborough Centre, ON]

Thank you.

There are different immigration streams for people who come into Canada. Do you think one immigration stream poses more of a security threat over another? Do you see that the ability for someone to come into Canada across the border through one immigration stream over another would lead to a problem with security on a national level?

[Salim Mansur]

I do not fully understand what you mean by “stream”, but simply, common sense tells us that there are areas in the world, source origins, that are greatly problematic and that do concern us in terms of the threat they bring to Canada.

[Roxanne James, Conservative, Scarborough Centre, ON]

With regard to immigration streams, I'm talking about someone coming here as an asylum claimant seeking refugee status versus someone who comes to Canada, gets permanent residency, and then applies for citizenship.

[Salim Mansur]

I agree with that, yes.

[Roxanne James, Conservative, Scarborough Centre, ON]

Okay.

I was just elected on May 2 of last year. I've learned a whole lot of things about our immigration system that I didn't know had actually occurred. I was a little bit taken aback at times.

One thing has to do with the entry and exit of people who come to Canada, and our ability to track who's coming in the door and who's leaving—and again, who's coming in the side door and who's coming in the back door when they should be coming in the front door.

I'm just wondering what your recommendations would be to improve our ability as a nation, as a government that is concerned about security, to better track people coming in and out of Canada.

[Salim Mansur]

What amazes me is that any regular bank would track me down, in any part of the world, if I had defaulted on their payments, and here we as a country cannot track down and keep track of people who are willing to exploit our system.

[Roxanne James, Conservative, Scarborough Centre, ON]

Thank you.

How much time do I have left?

[The Vice-Chair (Ms. Jinny Jogindera Sims), NDP, Jinny Sims]

You have about 15 seconds.

[Roxanne James, Conservative, Scarborough Centre, ON]

I'm going to be very quick.

Now, you've talked a lot about the Muslim population and so forth, but do you feel that it ties into the ability to integrate easily into Canadian society? Do you think that's leading to some of the problems?

I'm not singling out any one particular group. I'm just wondering if that's the key to a successful person coming into Canada, really contributing, getting a job, and getting the most out of Canadian citizenship as well. Do you think easy integration is the key?

[Salim Mansur]

Madam James—

[The Vice-Chair (Ms. Jinny Jogindera Sims), NDP, Jinny Sims]

Could you just hold on for a second, please?

Unfortunately, we've gone well over. It's five minutes and 15 seconds.

Mr. Menegakis—sorry, Député Menegakis—is next, so if he would accommodate an answer, that would be great.

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Richmond Hill, ON]

I'll ask my colleague to finish her thought, and then I'll continue on after her.

[Roxanne James, Conservative, Scarborough Centre, ON]

Thank you.

I think it was just your answer that we were waiting for, whether you think that for easier or better or quicker integration into Canadian society, having the language skills, etc., is key to success.

[Salim Mansur]

Well, to give a very quick answer we'd be generalizing, but in terms of generalizing, yes, there's a huge problem of culture and history that we are dealing with when it comes to immigration from Muslim countries and adapting to a society like Canada's.

[Roxanne James, Conservative, Scarborough Centre, ON]

Thank you.

I won't take up any more of your time.

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Richmond Hill, ON]

Thank you.

Thank you, Professor, and thank you for your testimony before us today and for being here.

I think you answered the first couple of questions I had. Is it fair to say that you are supportive of the ETA, the electronic travel authorization, and biometrics? I think I heard you say that you thought these technological tools, if you will, can assist us in identifying people before they come into the country. Is that fair to say?

[Salim Mansur]

Yes, that's correct.

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Richmond Hill, ON]

Thank you.

Canada welcomes a record number of immigrants every year. Last year, I believe we welcomed about 265,000. If I'm not mistaken, over the last five-year period we've averaged about 253,000 per year.

A previous witness pointed out at this committee that these high levels create pressure to meet our targets. As a result, few immigrants are interviewed before obtaining visas to enter Canada. We have heard testimony in the past that the lack of staff is not the problem, nor is increasing the number of staff a solution.

What do you recommend the government do to remedy this issue? Should Canada move toward more interviews as a method of screening applicants?

[The Vice-Chair (Ms. Jinny Jogindera Sims), NDP, Jinny Sims]

You have one minute.

[Salim Mansur]

We need more of it, and I understand that we are cutting back on our border security forces. There's the problem—trying to match our economic resources to the need. It's simple Economics 101. Our needs are greater than what we can supply them with.

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Richmond Hill, ON]

Since we're running out of time, I will tell you this. When the RCMP and CBSA and CSIS officials spoke with us when they were witnesses at this committee, they were highly supportive of these electronic tools, particularly biometrics, which they identify as a 21st-century tool.

That, in addition to the interviewing process, I think gives the right tools to determine who the people are who are going to walk the streets beside our families.

[Salim Mansur]

I agree with you.

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Richmond Hill, ON]

Thank you very much.

[The Vice-Chair (Ms. Jinny Jogindera Sims), NDP, Jinny Sims]

Thank you, Salim, for coming to present to the committee. Thanks to all the members. Have a wonderful evening.

The meeting is adjourned.