Citizenship and Immigration Committee on Feb. 6th, 2019

[James Grunau]

Absolutely. We would be happy for whichever pot of money is available and could help set up such a centre and help us with, not just the centre, but the beginning of a long-range plan. We think we should have something in the neighbourhood of five years to really prove that this concept is viable.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

With respect to housing, I know that in British Columbia, organizations have been trying to do this off the sides of their desks, trying to help and support these asylum seekers, because there are no resources available pretty well anywhere.

The service that you provide is a wraparound service. We've heard and seen this in the news. For example, in Quebec and Ontario, the government is trying to put them in hotels. It is an expensive venture. It's one time only, and that resource does not come back to us. Your proposal talks about building something that is permanent and can be reused over again without the costs of hotels. Can you expand on the value of that?

[Loren Balisky]

This is not a new idea. Last May, we hosted a forum for the first time in Canada. It happened around refugee claimant housing issues. An amazing group of people came together, from private investors to everybody, really trying to look at solutions for housing for this population. That led to a report. I have it here—we can send it to anyone—on the key actions we can take.

The province of B.C. stepped in at that point and said they wanted to work with us on a plan that can help move them towards housing solutions for refugee claimants. That is in process right now, and it wraps up at the end of March.

What we see is a community that's galvanized. It has all the right DNA, so to speak, to do this. We just need the investment and partnership of others to collaborate with us so that refugee claimants get a welcome that brings the best outcomes for them, for our region and for Canada.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

It's efficient, and cost effective as well.

I had the signal to say that I have no more time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

You may have one more question.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

On that report, I wonder whether or not you could submit it to the clerk's office so that it could be shared for all of the committee members. I think that would be valuable to all of us.

Again, thank you.

[James Grunau]

Thank you so much.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Is there anything else to add?

[James Grunau]

I was just going to say that we can submit the housing report and then our dream of the reception centre to show the wraparound and beginning stages of a more permanent plan for housing.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

Thank you to all of the witnesses.

Mr. Sinclair, we recognize that funding is related to immigrants and refugees who are sponsored either by government, privately or blended funding. If you have any experience with asylum seekers coming to your doors and seeking help and you're not either doing it because you're not supposed to, or you can't in some ways, can you provide that to the committee? I think that would also be of help to us.

[William Sinclair]

Certainly. As I mentioned, we're with blended funding from the province, municipality and IRCC, so we see everyone at our doors. The IRCC staff focus on the people who have permanent resident status.

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

I understand. If you have anything, it would be helpful for the committee, because it's one of those emerging areas.

Committee, thank you. We will see you after the next constituency week.

The meeting is adjourned.