Citizenship and Immigration Committee on Dec. 3rd, 2014

[Rathika Sitsabaiesan, NDP, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

I'd like to read a couple of comments from people across the country. I'll start with the one from Scarborough. This was in a long letter that was sent to the minister as well as Mr. Manicom, and we were cc'd as well.

I want to read to you comments from Mr. Johnny Park of Scarborough, Ontario, who wrote:

The applicant is not able to work, cannot have Health coverage and cannot travel abroad for 10 months and the sponsor must be able to do whatever it takes to take care of the family during that time as he/she is the single breadmaker. The long process itself could jeopardize the genuine relationship because the applicant feels un-secure, useless and hopeless at home not being able to do anything for such long time.

Another person is John Edward from Regina. He writes:

I am gradually losing my mind, I was stopped by my employer 7 months ago, a super career job. 3 months after my wife got her maternity leave and we live on her EI & my little savings. I used the period of inactivity to study, I wrote 2 professional exams and I passed, got job offers but no work permit, life is frustrating now for me sitting at home doing nothing, I took solace in the fact that I am expecting a baby boy, best gift money cannot buy. I sent my application August 2013 but up till now—

He wrote the comment in May 2014.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

You have 30 seconds.

[Rathika Sitsabaiesan, NDP, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

—AIP is still a mirage.

A lot of people are frustrated with the inland spousal sponsorship program. What can be done to improve this, and how is CIC going to improve this? There are far too many families who are in limbo.

[Robert Orr]

The number of individuals applying inland for spousal applications has almost doubled since 2010, and this is part of the issue we're trying to deal with.

Under the CIC's levels plan, we give about 48,000 spaces for spouses, partners, and children. The majority of that is from overseas, because we do try to bring people from overseas first. Because of the complete separation, we see greater needs there.

Nevertheless, the numbers in Canada have gone up to over 9,000 in the last couple of years, so we are trying to increase the space for more of those applications to be landed.

We also continue to look at ways that we can try to ease some of these very real difficulties while people are waiting for landing in Canada.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Thank you.

I think the time has expired, ladies and gentlemen.

I want to thank you for coming and helping us with the interim estimates. We don't need to vote on this, because the time for reporting to the House has expired.

That concludes the supplementary estimates.

Just to remind you, the draft report in relation to the study of strengthening protection of women in our immigration system will be distributed to members on or before January 15. I also remind you that when you receive that, it's confidential, so you can't discuss it with others.

That appears to conclude the meeting.

I want to wish you all a merry Christmas.

This meeting is adjourned.