Citizenship and Immigration Committee on May 31st, 2018

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

So I'm asking—

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

Secondly, I'm answering the question.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

No, you're not answering my question, actually. You're answering the question that you would like to answer, so I will state my question again.

We have seen visa denials increase from other countries with the rationale, as I just said, that due to the deteriorating climate, there is a reasonable fear that people would not return home.

I am wondering, first of all, if this is compatible with the declaration that Canada has signed regarding the humanitarian situation in Venezuela, and if the minister has put forward any sort of directive to deny visas from countries where there may be concerns of increased asylum claims.

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

It's very difficult for a member of a government that muzzled bureaucrats and media to understand that we respect our civil service.

[An hon. member]

Oh, come on; don't go there.

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

We understand that our visa officers make independent decisions. That's what we expect them to do, and that's what they're doing.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Again, my question has not been answered. I'm wondering if this particular directive is in alignment with the Lima statement that was signed on May 21, 2018.

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

What directive?

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

The Lima statement that was put in place on May 21, 2018, which says—

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

I'm not asking about the statement. I'm asking about the ministerial directive that you seem to know about and I don't.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

I'm asking the minister—

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

I haven't made a directive.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

—given that there is a dramatically increased rate of visa refusals from Venezuela, if there has been any directive given to refuse visa applications from Venezuela.

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

Once again, we don't interfere in the decision-making process of independent civil servants and visa officers, and that is our position.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Given that Canada signed this declaration on May 21, 2018, and given that Canada has seen an increased number of visa refusals with the “other” category that I just mentioned, how is the minister going to square that circle?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

It's very easy: We don't muzzle our civil servants like you did when you were in office.

It's very simple: We believe that our visa officers make independent decisions.

[An hon. member]

That's no way to act, Minister. You're a minister; act appropriately.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Chair, I have a point of order on the decorum of the witness. I feel the witness is being somewhat unparliamentary in his aspersions, and I would call him to order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

I would remind all the members that we will ask our questions as MPs, but the answers are those that are given by the witnesses. It is their responsibility to answer the questions as they feel fit.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Thank you for maintaining decorum in such an appropriate way, Mr. Chair.

Would the minister please tell us the number of Romanian asylum claims that have been made since December 2017?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

Mr. MacKinnon will answer that question.

[Paul MacKinnon, Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Program Policy, Department of Citizenship and Immigration]

Since December 1, 2017, up until May 19, there have been 1,022 asylum claims from Romania.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Earlier this year, the department mentioned that there was a line, a number in which the minister would make a decision to reinstate the visa on Romania. What is that number?

[Paul MacKinnon]

As I think I said last time on this question, the government is not sharing what that line is. There is a threshold in place, but out of respect for the relationship with Romania, the government is not releasing that threshold publicly.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

The department promised to deliver its review of the visa policy framework within this year. When will that be done?