Citizenship and Immigration Committee on April 29th, 2019

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

They would only need one work permit, then. Is that what you're saying? Once they've been approved to come here to work from whatever their country of origin is, then they will only need that one work permit and they don't have to renew it after they've completed their two-year work requirement.

[David Cashaback]

For the principal applicant, we usually issue a work permit for the duration of the offer of employment. If the employment is there for two years, it's a two-year work permit. Spouses and dependants have a open work permits. If the principal has their caregiving job, then we issue open work permits to the spouses and dependants.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

There's no time limit on the open work permits?

[David Cashaback]

There will be a time limit, generally. It's not yet specified what those time limits will be.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Okay. That's another question we don't know the answer to.

My other question is this: When the children, or even the adult children, are here and go to school, would they be required to pay the student fees as foreign students?

[David Cashaback]

It's really on a case-by-case basis, depending on the provinces and the rules that each province has with regard to access and to the fees they require.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

I know, but would they be treated as foreign students for all the provinces?

[David Cashaback]

I don't know how each province will do it. It would depend on—

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

I'm going to bring the Conservatives' time to a close and recognize Ms. Kwan to continue in the second seven minutes.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Thank you very much.

We already know which provinces have what fee structure for foreign students. That's not a hard thing to get. I'm sure the department has that information. When the individuals who would be pre-vetted and pre-approved come to Canada, would they have to pay the high student fees as though they are foreign students?

Likewise, for medical coverage.... For people in the province of British Columbia, for example, access to medical coverage is very expensive. If you're a foreign student or temporary foreign worker, you don't have access to MSP coverage. That, too, is very onerous.

These are details that matter to people. I've gone out and met with caregivers on a number of occasions now about this new program. They ask these questions and I have no way of providing them with an answer. I was hoping that I would get some answers today; that's why I asked for the briefing.

Can you tell me whether or not they'd be faced with foreign student fees? What about the medical coverage?

[David Cashaback]

I think for both, especially for the medical, it will be on a province-by-province basis depending on the eligibility rules for foreign workers.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Right. In other words, they will be treated as though they are foreign workers, and we know, on that basis, that they will face foreign student fees and medical fees as though they are temporary foreign workers. What about EI coverage? That's something else temporary foreign workers don't have access to. Even though they pay into EI coverage, they can never claim it. They're not eligible to claim it. Will there be changes in that regard?

[David Cashaback]

Regarding employment insurance, their eligibility for employment is under another department. I can't answer the question on eligibility.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Okay. I appreciate that. I think all members would want to know these answers, because these are real logistical questions that are being asked by the caregivers themselves, and that is part of this process. I would have thought we would have some answers, Mr. Chair. I get it that you work between government and between ministries and so on, but I would have thought we would have these answers. The government made this announcement about the program, but for all intents and purposes, they don't really know what the program looks like, and they don't really know how it will impact the families, so that is the major issue.

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

I'm going to interrupt you because I don't think that is a fair characterization of our officials who are here today. It's an opinion, but I would ask you to be more parliamentary in your discourse, because at this point, I don't think it is fair to impinge upon the credibility of officials who are public servants.

[David Tilson, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

I will just finish my comment that I would request appropriate parliamentary behaviour from all members of the committee when we have officials here who have presented something. This is news to all of us. This is not a government side or an opposition side. I am requesting respect for public servants.

Thank you.

[David Tilson, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

On a point of order, Mr. Chairman, I don't think Ms. Kwan is attacking the witnesses. I think she's attacking—

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

What is your point of order?

[David Tilson, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

My point of order is to challenge you. She's attacking—

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

Okay, I've been challenged.

[David Tilson, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

She's attacking the program.

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

Thank you. I've been challenged—

[David Tilson, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Well, it would be nice for you to listen to what my point of order is.

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

I've been challenged, and now I want to see whether my comments are upheld by the committee.