Okay, so what was—
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.
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.
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
5:25 p.m.
As an Individual
Okay. Over the last 10 years, what would you say the percentage was?
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
Randeep Sarai Liberal Surrey Centre, BC
Over the last 10 years, I would say the ratio has always been 2:1 economic immigrants versus—
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
Randeep Sarai Liberal Surrey Centre, BC
I can tell you that last year it was. I can tell you that this year it's projected—
5:25 p.m.
As an Individual
You can tell me last year and you can tell me this year, but if you average it over 10 years.... We're not talking about people coming to live here for one or two years; we're looking at decades, right?
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
Randeep Sarai Liberal Surrey Centre, BC
So, as you said, we'll wait for those statistics. I just asked you because you made a statement that I was—
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Borys Wrzesnewskyj
When members are questioning we should display appropriate courtesy and allow witnesses the opportunity to answer the questions.
Thank you.
Mr. Sarai, please continue.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
Randeep Sarai Liberal Surrey Centre, BC
Okay, I'm a little shocked at where you got those numbers. I can tell you in my situation that my grandparents came in 1982. They came as family class and they worked on a family farm, not my farm, my uncle's farm. My grandfather never took a nickel of social services for 32 years. My grandmother never took a nickel. She raised eight grandchildren, two of whom are lawyers, one is a doctor, one is an optometrist, one is a teacher, and one is procurement specialist. I think the economic benefit that she provided to the country outweighs anything any number can do.
Also, my uncles who sponsored her had guaranteed that for 10 years she would not take any social services or any government assistance, and she never did that in that time. Had she done so, they would have been billed for that.
You seemed to allude to parents or grandparents being a burden. I'm not sure if you're aware that now, under the current rules since a few years ago, for 20 years a parent or grandparent cannot collect social services in Canada and cannot collect the pension, other than for what they have contributed to. I don't know if you have looked into that or not.
5:25 p.m.
As an Individual
I understand that there is a 20-year sponsorship. My question is, you have to prove a certain level of income, but are you aware of any job that's guaranteed for 20 years, and what happens if the sponsor defaults? Does that person then go back, or do taxpayers then have to pick up that bill?
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
Randeep Sarai Liberal Surrey Centre, BC
Since you asked, I'll tell you what happens. If the sponsor defaults, the government will definitely give social assistance to the person who is sponsored, the parent or grandparent, and immediately the next month the Canadian sponsor is billed, so the child who sponsored his parents will be invoiced the exact amount of dollars that the parent is given. That will be invoiced with interest and they are obliged to pay that within 30 days. If not, interest at 5% comes on, so there is virtually zero default in this country in terms of parental or grandparent sponsorship in that program.
5:25 p.m.
As an Individual
If they lose their job, they're not able to pay for that. Who pays for it? It comes back to taxpayers. It does come back to taxpayers. If you're not able to pay it, you're not able to pay it.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
Randeep Sarai Liberal Surrey Centre, BC
Again, I stand to correct you. Unless you go bankrupt, you are obliged to pay that. It's a debt, just like your taxes. That person will have to pay it, and other than the rare case of 0.01% or less where somebody goes bankrupt and cannot pay for it, there is absolutely zero burden on the taxpayer.
It is the same for any pensions. I just want to remind you and those who might be watching this that other than those countries that have reciprocal agreements on pensions with Canada, you get no old age pension other than what you contribute. My grandparents never took a nickel until they passed their time here, and they unfortunately passed away and were unable to collect any pensions. Most parents or grandparents, for the 20 years, will not collect a nickel of pension in this country because of that.
I think you should look into that prior to making the assertion that Canadians are going to have to pay for the default of any parent or grandparent.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Borys Wrzesnewskyj
Thank you.
That concludes this round of our hearings, and I'd like to thank the panellists for appearing. We've had an eye-opening round. It has been very informative. I'd like to thank everyone for their participation.
With that, the meeting is adjourned.
