Evidence of meeting #34 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 class.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:15 p.m.
As an Individual
Such as Statistics Canada. I assume you would trust that study. Based on that, no, I don't remember—
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
5:15 p.m.
As an Individual
Statistics Canada has a number of different studies that support my argument.
5:15 p.m.
As an Individual
If you would like a specific reference for that, I will send you an email. I don't have it memorized. I believe I just had seven minutes, so I did not memorize the specific numbers.
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
Ali Ehsassi Liberal Willowdale, ON
Okay. Another question is, you were concerned about parents and grandparents relying heavily on social assistance. Do you have any data to back that up, that it does pose a problem and that—
5:15 p.m.
As an Individual
Again, it does come back to research and analysis that was done on various websites and—
5:15 p.m.
As an Individual
Since you want the specifics, I could forward those links to you.
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
Ali Ehsassi Liberal Willowdale, ON
Thank you, we'd be grateful.
Lastly, you are very much concerned about provinces. You speak on behalf of provinces, that this is a drain on provinces. I've had an opportunity to look at the position of various provinces, insofar as family sponsorship is concerned, and to the extent that I've done any research they seem to be quite supportive of family reunification. Do you know of any province that is not in favour of family reunification?
5:15 p.m.
As an Individual
I don't believe I say that in any part of my statement. What I did say in the statement was that health care is a huge issue for provinces. When you sponsor someone who's over a certain age—and no, I don't have statistics for that—but I just assume that it's general knowledge, the older you get the more you rely on the health care system.
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Borys Wrzesnewskyj
Earlier you referenced some research data that you had on parents' and grandparents' employment levels; there is the opportunity to provide that data to the committee.
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
Bob Saroya Conservative Markham—Unionville, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to both of you for giving us your perspective.
I believe in 2011, or whatever the year was, the super visa was introduced. It was the alternative for family reunification. I believe over 142,000 files are waiting in the queue for family reunification. It would be impossible for the system to bring everybody here. I understand the wait time is seven years, five years, whatever the number is.
If we have to pick a number, what quota would you like to see picked?
5:20 p.m.
Settlement Worker, Davenport-Perth Neighbourhood and Community Health Centre
Is this for super visas?
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
Bob Saroya Conservative Markham—Unionville, ON
That was my second question. Let's come back to the super visa first.
Where do you see super visas succeeding in the country when we cannot bring everybody at the same time? The super visa helps in your case?
5:20 p.m.
Settlement Worker, Davenport-Perth Neighbourhood and Community Health Centre
If there's no alternative. Like I mentioned before, if the quota of 10,000 has been met very early in the year, the super visa does help, at least to have their parents or grandparents here for some time.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
Bob Saroya Conservative Markham—Unionville, ON
It does help.
How about, Ms. Albert, from your point of view? It doesn't cost anything to the taxpayers.
5:20 p.m.
As an Individual
I don't have a problem with the super visas because a lot of that responsibility is on the sponsors themselves.