Evidence of meeting #135 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was information.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:15 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Program Policy, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
We could share those numbers with you.
Generally, this year, Mr. Chair, I would say it's about 50%, but it depends upon the country. Some countries have high rejection rates.
We have those figures and would be happy to share the overall figures with the table.
5:15 p.m.
Thérèse-De Blainville, Lib.
I have 20 seconds left. I'll use them to thank the witnesses.
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Maguire Conservative Brandon—Souris, MB
Under the estimates, you sought millions of dollars in contingency funding under vote 5a. It was emergency funding out of the Treasury Board's contingency fund—so it has to be paid back by IRCC—used for biometric programming, temporary foreign workers and the exit-entry program.
In that you personally had to sign off on this Treasury Board funding to access this emergency funding, why did they need the emergency funding, and what are the specifics around each reason for the requirement for this emergency funding?
5:15 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Financial Officer, Finance, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
We do not accept emergency funds. The department's vote 5a is a capital expenditure credit. It will be used for computer systems that are being developed. So it is not the same vote 5a as that of the Treasury Board Secretariat, which is the central reserve.
Vote 5 for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is really a capital credit that allows us to invest in our computer systems or our assets.
We don't borrow money and we do not use emergency funds in this case.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Maguire Conservative Brandon—Souris, MB
It doesn't have to be paid back. Is that what you're saying?
5:20 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Financial Officer, Finance, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Exactly, we don't need to reimburse it. It is not a contingency fund, it's a fund that belongs to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Maguire Conservative Brandon—Souris, MB
Okay, thank you.
I'll turn it over to my colleague, Mr. Chair.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
How many illegal border crossers are still living in hotels?
5:20 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
It's often the case that irregular border crossers or other asylum seekers require temporary housing assistance, and that housing assistance can be provided either by provincial governments or—
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
I know all that. How many of these illegal border crossers are still living in hotels?
5:20 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Many asylum seekers require temporary assistance, and that assistance can be provided by cities, municipalities—
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
I understand that. How many illegal border crossers are still living in hotels?
5:20 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
I wouldn't have a number for asylum seekers who are living in hotels.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
What's been the cost to date, since the beginning of 2017, for housing illegal border crossers?
5:20 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
One second, and we will have that for you.
5:20 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Financial Officer, Finance, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
This year, in 2018-19, the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship plans to spend about $14 million for temporary housing, which includes hotels.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
What's the rate of rejection of asylum claims of illegal border crossers?
5:20 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
We would be happy to provide you the IRB approval and rejection rate by country for asylum seekers in general.
November 27th, 2018 / 5:20 p.m.
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Okay. You can give that to the clerk.
Of these, can you tell me how many have been removed to date? How many of these illegal border crossers have been removed to date?
5:20 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
We would be happy to provide that information. That is the responsibility of the Canada Border Services Agency, so we would get that information from them to make sure that it's absolutely accurate.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Thank you.
Earlier this year, we were told that Nigerians made up the bulk of those crossing illegally in 2018. Is that still the case?
5:20 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
They're not the majority, but they're the largest single nationality.
