Evidence of meeting #148 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 program.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant
I'm 18 years older. We're all older now. I'm sensing we're going to have to say in this report that something needs modernizing here.
I'll go to both Ms. Kwan and Larry.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I wonder if you can indulge this request as well. It would seem to me that it would be beneficial for the committee members to also get a briefing from staff.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant
It was pushed further and now it's back.
Okay, can we have five minutes for Ms. Kwan and Mr. Maguire?
Ms. Kwan.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
I was just going to quickly add that I think the committee would benefit from a briefing from staff on the rural community pilot as well, the pilot program that the government announced. I think there are some issues as well that we, as members of Parliament, would like to bring up. For example, I live in Vancouver—
Scarborough Centre, Lib.
On a point of order, we are required immediately in the House. That was the message we have received: all members in the House immediately.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant
But it's a 30-minute bell.
Does that mean I don't have unanimous consent to continue?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant
I hope I do for three minutes. Ms. Kwan has just made a motion, which I think is an appropriate motion, that we get a briefing not only on the new caregiver program but also on the rural pilot.
Are we all agreed?
Liberal
Conservative
Larry Maguire Conservative Brandon—Souris, MB
Thanks, Mr. Chair.
My question is in relation to my colleagues' questions, and good questions, on permanent residency and temporary foreign workers. I'm just wondering if there's a pathway to permanent residency for temporary foreign workers now. The minister's mandate letter indicates they were going to look at it and do it. I'm just wondering if you could expand, very shortly I guess, on that question. Is there a pathway to permanent residency for temporary foreign workers now?
Acting Director General, Immigration Branch, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
There are definitely many in existence. I think when we looked at the announcement last week around the additional 2,000 NOC C spaces under the provincial nominee programs, that was one of the key mandate letter deliverables in terms of increasing those pathways to permanent residence. But I'd say that across a number of our permanent immigration programs, foreign workers are always eligible to apply. I'd add that experience working in Canada is one thing that gets one points under the express entry selection system as well. That is recognized, and I know it is encouraged.
Liberal