Citizenship and Immigration Committee on May 31st, 2018

[Paul MacKinnon]

We're looking at the policy framework. That should come forth within months.

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

Under a previous Conservative government, the metrics for visa-exempt status included metrics such as an immigration violation rate of less than 3% over three years, and a refugee claim rate of less than 2% of all asylum claims made in Canada. It now seems completely random as to which countries the government exempts.

Will the minister now provide this information to committee on how he is determining the removal of visa requirements from countries such as Romania and Mexico?

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

Under Canada's visa policy framework, the decision to lift or impose a visa is taken very seriously.

Countries are assessed both against—

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

Thank you.

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

I'm trying to answer the question.

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

I have limited time. Does the federal—

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

Countries are assessed against both a qualitative and a quantitative criteria such as border management—

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

Does the federal government have any plan to offset the cost to provinces for the change in medical inadmissibility for this?

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

—travel document integrity, and trends related to irregular migration—

[An hon. member]

Point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

I'll just remind everyone that it's hard for the interpreters. We need one person to speak at a time.

Ms. Rempel, you have the floor.

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

Yes, thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

You have seven seconds.

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

Does the federal government have any plan to offset the cost to the provinces for the change in medical inadmissibility rules?

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

Very briefly.

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

There's an ongoing discussion with the provinces and territories on the issue of excessive demand.

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

Thank you, Ms. Rempel.

Ms. Kwan.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Thank you to the minister and his officials.

We have learned that the London, England, office of IRCC routinely sends out what they call procedural fairness letters to spousal sponsorship applicants. The language of those letters in my view is offensive and insulting. They question the merit of the marriage in such a way that in my view is inappropriate.

I raised this yesterday with the Prime Minister in the House of Commons, and I got gibberish as a response.

I wonder whether the minister can comment on this. Does he think that kind of language is appropriate?

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

Reuniting families continues to be a very top priority for our government. We've done a lot to improve the process of spousal sponsorship—

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Sorry, Madam Chair; I'm going to interrupt here for a minute.

I have seven minutes for a question and response. I'm asking a direct question.

Does the minister think it is appropriate for the U.K. office to be issuing those kinds of letters to spousal sponsorship applicants?

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

We've made a lot of progress in terms of the spousal sponsorship process. At the same time, our department continues to uphold measures to safeguard against marriage fraud and other program integrity risks.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Madam Chair, has the minister seen the letter that I'm referring to?

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

No, I haven't seen that letter.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

It was included in the package that I handed to you yesterday after question period.

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

I just got it yesterday. My staff is looking at the package, and I—