Citizenship and Immigration Committee on Feb. 26th, 2014

[Ryhan Mansour]

No, but I think the message was out because it was a reference to a specific passage in “Welcome to Canada”, but also “Welcome to Canada” has a large section on familiarization with Canadian laws and all the other things that are not tolerated, such as cultural adaptations for immigrant women, seniors, youths, family dynamics, even parenting in Canada. These things are part of the orientations that are happening through the online services as well as group orientations where immigrants may be exposed to the issues you're referring to.

[John McCallum, Liberal, Markham—Unionville, ON]

Okay.

In terms of the definition of marriage of convenience, does money have to pass hands?

[Robert Orr]

Not necessarily, no.

[John McCallum, Liberal, Markham—Unionville, ON]

I'm not quite sure what the definition is. Obviously, it's not a marriage of love or of wanting to live together. It's convenient for one party. Since they're not friends, presumably there's a benefit, which presumably takes the form of money.

Is it not usual, if not always the case, that one person gets landed immigrant status in return for giving money to another person?

[Angela Gawel]

I think there are different situations in which you can have a marriage of convenience. One of them may be that there is some sort of consideration, a monetary consideration or other that, for instance, the sponsor receives for engaging in a marriage of convenience. It may also be that the sponsor is unwitting and is the victim of a marriage of convenience from someone who pretends to wish to marry them and of course has no intention of staying with them.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Thank you, Mr. McCallum.

Mr. Orr, you may not hear them, but the bells are actually ringing. On behalf of the committee, I want to thank you and your colleagues for coming and helping us with this topic.

[Robert Orr]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

The meeting is adjourned.