Citizenship and Immigration Committee on Oct. 4th, 2016

[Salma Zahid, Liberal, Scarborough Centre, ON]

I'll give you one example. I have seen in some cases that the medical has been done three or four times, because the medical is done, and then it expires when the background checks or the security checks are happening, so that also delays the process. Do you think there is something that could be done?

[Robert Orr]

There is no doubt there have been instances where that has occurred, and too frequently. We're making every effort at the moment to try to look at the process from A to Z and to try to figure out better ways to manage that so we avoid that situation occurring.

[The Chair, Liberal, Borys Wrzesnewskyj]

Thank you.

Mr. Tilson, you have five minutes, please.

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

Mr. Chairman, I was asking questions about the caregiver class. What's the current status of the caregiver class backlog?

[Robert Orr]

Mr. Chair, as of August 2016, the backlog of permanent resident applications is 12,188 cases, or 33,866 persons. While the backlog in cases has decreased since 2014, the backlog in persons has increased since July 2013, as applicants are including their dependants in their permanent resident applications. Previously they were tending to sponsor them after they had become permanent residents, so now we have the numbers increasing somewhat even though the number of cases is indeed coming down.

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

Can you tell us which labour markets have been or will be most adversely affected by the shift away from economic migrants?

[Robert Orr]

The minister made clear that we have not backed away from economic migration. If you look at the figures in 2016, you will see the economic numbers are somewhat lower than they were in 2015, but if you compare it to all previous years, it is higher than those years, so it's higher than 2014, 2013, 2012, etc.

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

You did a good job. I was hoping you'd give a different answer.

Have you noted the labour shortages in any particular markets thus far under this new focus?

[Robert Orr]

I do not have that information. It may be better put to ESDC, which is really the custodian of looking at the labour market.

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

Can you report on the status and functioning of the pilot program to allow applicants under the spouse or common-law partner in Canada class to work while awaiting the processing of their inland applications?

[Robert Orr]

We've issued approximately 20,700 spousal open work permits since that was permitted, which I believe started at the end of December 2014, on December 22, 2014. That has been a valuable component for those who are awaiting finalization of their applications. It has allowed them to work and to become better settled within Canada.

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

Have there been any problems?

[Robert Orr]

Not that I am aware of.

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

Has there been a failure rate?

[Robert Orr]

Again, not that I am aware of.

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

Can you report on the effect of the 2014 change in the age of dependent children, from 22 to 19 years, who can be sponsored under the family class?

[Robert Orr]

The age of dependency was under 19 years of age, so it had an impact on the numbers of people who would be included in the various categories. I'm not aware of other impacts there.

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

You can't tell us what the numbers show as a result of this change.

[Robert Orr]

I'm sorry, I do not have that information with me.

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

Perhaps, Mr. Orr, you could send that to the clerk.

[Robert Orr]

Yes, we'll look into that.

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

I have one more question. Can you report on the changes instituted in 2014 on the income requirements for sponsoring parents and grandparents?

[Robert Orr]

Indeed, there were some changes at that time. The period of sponsorship, for instance, went from 10 years to 20. Some of the economic requirements were increased at that point. This was to ensure that the parents and grandparents would not be accessing social assistance.

[The Chair, Liberal, Borys Wrzesnewskyj]

Thank you.

Mr. Sarai, five minutes, please.

[Randeep Sarai, Liberal, Surrey Centre, BC]

Thank you.

My colleague asked a question earlier about the parent and grandparent sponsorships. They're all received in one day, usually, and in a few hours the amount is complete. Do we have a regional breakdown, between the provinces and territories, of how many parent or grandparent applications come from British Columbia versus Ontario? Do we have a regional breakdown?