Citizenship and Immigration Committee on March 10th, 2016

[The Chair, Liberal, Borys Wrzesnewskyj]

I would like to call the meeting to order.

Pursuant to an order of reference of February 19, 2016, and the motion adopted by the committee on February 23, 2016, the minister and department officials are here to discuss the supplementary estimates (C).

I'd like to call vote 1c under Citizenship and Immigration in order to commence the general discussion of the supplementary estimates, and I now invite the minister to make his opening statement.

[John McCallum, Liberal, Minister of Immigration]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Good morning, everyone.

I am very pleased to be here this morning to present my department's supplementary estimates (C) for the 2015-16 fiscal year.

I am joined by my deputy minister Anita Biguzs and four assistant deputy ministers, Tony Matson, Catrina Tapley, Robert Orr, and Dawn Edlund.

I'd like to talk briefly about a few significant items and then answer all of your questions, to the extent of my ability, on the estimates.

Since last fall, we have all worked extremely hard—especially the officials of my department—to help bring 25,000 refugees over to Canada from a very difficult part of the world. I would say that Canadians everywhere have responded extremely well through sponsoring refugees and donating food and clothing. Settlement service providers have done everything they could to help start these new Canadians out on a pathway to success. The private sector has also helped us with funding.

Thanks to all of this work, I have two pieces of good news to give you, which I only learned this morning, on the housing front. As I've said repeatedly, housing has definitely been an issue. It's one of the hurdles we have to jump to be successful.

The first piece of good news is that, as of the end of today, there will be zero people in the hotels booked for the department for first arrivals in Toronto and Montreal. There will be no more refugees in the hotels booked by my department in those two cities of arrival. Of course, there will be many in hotels elsewhere, but this is a good sign that the initial stopping point will no longer be needed. The refugees will either be in other hotels and temporary lodging, or they will be in permanent housing.

The second piece of good news is that I learned just today that, as of today, 67%, just over two-thirds of all of the refugees who have arrived here, are now in permanent housing. A couple of weeks ago, it was 52%. Since that time, a lot of refugees arrived in the last week or so before the end of February. As of today, 67% have permanent housing.

When we had 52%, the numbers were much lower. It was approximately 30% for Vancouver and Toronto. Those big cities are still at the lower end, but they've gone from 30% to 46%, in the case of Vancouver, in permanent lodging; 50% in Toronto are now in permanent lodging. This information comes from the settlement organizations.

The other thing to add on this is that the settlement agencies have now projected the date on which everybody will be lodged permanently. The latest of these projected dates is June. By May 10, all but three cities will have projected 100% of the refugees in permanent lodging. The three that will be later, later in May or June, are Moncton, Vancouver, and Toronto.

Still, the fact that we have moved from 30% to 46% or 50% in Vancouver and the fact that we've moved from 52% overall to 67% is certainly evidence that progress is being made in terms of finding permanent housing for refugees.

I am very pleased to announce that, in the past two or three weeks, the percentage of refugees now living in permanent housing has moved from 52% to 67%, which means that we have certainly made progress in this difficult area.

On that note, let me now go to the substance of the estimates.

My department is seeking access to funding of $17.7 million under the government-wide project contingency for the Syrian refugee effort. Such funding was previously approved and earmarked for this purpose. The request to access this contingency included funding to ensure that interim lodging sites would be ready to receive refugees, should the capacity of existing temporary accommodation be exceeded.

However, thanks to the involvement and efforts of stakeholders, we were able to expand our use of welcoming hotels and did not need to rely on these lodgings.

In other words, we have not needed to make use of military bases.

The contingency funding is being used to support temporary accommodation costs for refugees in regions, and any unspent funds will be returned to the fiscal framework at the end of the fiscal year.

The department is seeking $4.5 million to provide an updated amount to the Canada-Quebec accord on immigration. This will bring the annual grant the federal government provides to support settlement and integration services in Quebec to $345.1 million.

Under the accord, as you may be aware, the Government of Quebec is responsible for providing reception and integration services to all immigrants.

At this time when large numbers of people are arriving in Canada as part of the #WelcomeRefugees initiative, this funding is particularly important.

The department is also seeking approval to realign previously approved resources that had been allocated as departmental operating expenditures to facilitate the processing of refugees by departmental staff. This involves transferring $20 million to the grants and contribution vote for services that have been provided on behalf of the department by the International Organization for Migration in the overseas processing of Syrian refugee applicants.

In other words, we did a little bit of outsourcing: $20 million that would have been spent by the department was instead spent by the people in the International Organization for Migration, who have terrific expertise. I know; I've met them out in the region. They provided a lot of the help, so that's why the $20 million is transferred from money that would have been spent by the department to being instead allocated to IOM. Since this is a transfer from operating expenditure to grants and contributions, it is not a request for additional funding.

A significant allocation in these estimates is the $14.8 million in funding to continue to implement changes to the temporary foreign worker program and the international mobility program.

The reforms to the temporary foreign worker program were aimed at ensuring Canadians are given first chance at available jobs. Introduced in 2014, the reforms limited access to the program and introduced stronger enforcement, with penalties for those who did not comply.

Budget 2015 authorized funds of $42.7 million from 2015 to 2017 for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. In 2015-16, funds were used to change both the temporary foreign worker program and the international mobility program.

Another major adjustment involves funding to expand biometric screening in Canada's immigration system. Funding of $5.6 million would be used to develop plans to define, build, and deploy a larger biometrics program. In June 2015, it was announced that Canada would expand use of biometric screening over a five-year period to foreign nationals applying for a work or a study permit. U.S. citizens would be excluded from this measure.

Biometric screening would also be used for foreigners applying for a visitor visa or permanent residency in Canada.

This builds on the implementation of biometric screening for temporary residents.

Currently citizens from 29 countries and one territory provide fingerprints and have a digital photo taken when they apply to come to Canada temporarily to visit, study, or work.

Biometrics are a reliable and accurate tool. They enable us to confirm a traveller's identity.

Biometric immigration screening is used in about 70 countries. Its expansion will ensure Canada keeps pace with our partners, including the U.S. and the U.K., as well as other countries in Europe.

My department also proposes to continue support for Canada's migrant smuggling prevention strategy with funding of $3 million under the supplementary estimates. This strategy is an effort to disrupt organized human smuggling operations believed to be destined for Canada. The department provides assistance to intercepted migrants through the evaluation of the global assistance for irregular migrants program.

Finally I would draw your attention to a reduction in the appropriation for the federal skilled workers fees. The department has terminated most federal skilled worker program applications received before 2008. These estimates include a $23-million negative adjustment reflecting reductions for fee returns in 2015-16.

Mr. Chair, my colleagues and I would be happy to answer any questions from committee members about any part of these supplementary estimates or any other matter.

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Borys Wrzesnewskyj]

Thank you, Minister McCallum.

Pursuant to routine motion adopted by the committee on February 16, we will now proceed to rounds of questions, beginning with seven minutes for Ms. Zahid.

[Salma Zahid, Liberal, Scarborough Centre, ON]

I would like to thank the honourable minister for all the work and his passion on the file of citizenship and immigration. We are all very thankful to you.

Minister, I know the estimates include $2.5 million in funding to among other things reduce the live-in caregiver program backlog.

This is a very important issue in my riding of Scarborough Centre. We have a substantial Filipino and Indian community and many caregivers who have come to Canada from different parts of the world. In communities like Surrey there is a large backlog of Indian caregivers awaiting approval. They are mostly women. These are hard-working people who make an important contribution to Canadian society.

How much of this funding will be used to reduce this unacceptable backlog?

What is the current backlog, and what is your goal for eliminating this backlog?

[John McCallum, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

I certainly share with you the view that the live-in caregiver program is extremely important for many Canadian families who need the caregivers for both older people—including my mother, who has benefited from one—and young children. We also have to be very conscious of the well-being of the caregivers themselves.

I know there has been a history of long processing times. While the number of caregivers we admitted in 2016 is down marginally, it is still the second highest number in the last 10 years or so. It is certain that because of the way inventories have evolved. the processing time for caregivers will be down substantially over the next year.

My officials might be able to describe that in more detail, but I know it is down substantially. In terms of the additional funding that you mentioned, it will go into further reducing the backlogs and dealing with with the legacy cases—people who have been waiting a long time in terms of caregivers.

What I'm saying is that we have admitted a large number, we propose to in 2016, and that the processing times are scheduled to come down.

[Anita Biguzs, Deputy Minister, Department of Citizenship and Immigration]

Perhaps, Mr. Chair, I would just add to the minister's comments that, in fact, as a result of the increased intake we've had over the last couple of years and the increased intake in 2016, we've actually reduced our inventory by 34% as of December 31, 2015. That's just been within the last year. We've made significant progress in terms of trying to reduce the inventory to help us position for better processing times overall in the coming years for live-in caregivers.

[Salma Zahid, Liberal, Scarborough Centre, ON]

Minister, I can report that my constituents in Scarborough Centre were pleased when the government, earlier this year, met its goal of bringing 25,000 Syrian refugees to Canada. We are all proud of that fact.

I have met several families who have settled in Scarborough and in my riding. The outpouring of support in the community for these families has been very heartwarming. People have welcomed them with open hearts and open arms. Could you describe the ongoing budgetary needs to support the Syrian refugee program, particularly with regard to ensuring adequate funding for the settlement agencies?

[John McCallum, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

I too have witnessed refugees very happy to be here and making good progress in terms of settling in. As I've said many times, this is not an instantaneous process. There will be hiccups; there will be ups and downs. As I indicated in my remarks, we have the good news that just over two-thirds of the refugees already have permanent housing.

In terms of funding for settlement agencies, we applied a formula in which funding was based on the average number of immigrants over the past three years. Some places received more and some places received less according to the funding. In addition to that regular funding for settlement, they received substantial additional amounts based on the numbers of refugees they accepted. The refugees are weighted at two and a half times the amount given for other immigrants given the additional amount of services they require. Areas that have received large numbers of refugees have done well in terms of the funding.

Perhaps the deputy would like to add something to that.

[Anita Biguzs]

I'll add just a few details further to the minister's comments.

In terms of the funding that was authorized for the overall Syrian national project, which included funding in the supplementary estimates (B) and supplementary estimates (C), a little over $44 million has actually been allocated for settlement services and the resettlement assistance program. That's to ensure that the services are there for things like language training, facilitating things like job skilling, interviewing for jobs, and that kind of thing, in addition to the income support that's provided under the resettlement assistance program. That's basically for 2015-16. There are also incremental resources in 2016-17 and future years on top of what is normally provided under the settlement services budget, which is around $589 million. The resettlement assistance program's A-base budget is about $55 million, but there are incremental resources for the Syrian initiative, in particular in recognition of the fact that there will clearly be so many more people wanting to access services.

We've already indicated this to settlement provider organizations. We've already provided funding for this year, and notified them that there will be additional resources provided in 2016-17 and future years to, in fact, meet those needs.

[John McCallum, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

Finally, I know that language training is an important issue. I think it's approximately 30% of the settlement money. That's 30% of five hundred and something million dollars going to language training. Particularly with the current crop of refugees who typically speak not a word of English or French, language training is critical, and we are devoting a lot of money to that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Borys Wrzesnewskyj]

Thank you, Minister.

Thank you, Ms. Zahid.

[Salma Zahid, Liberal, Scarborough Centre, ON]

I have a question.

[The Chair, Liberal, Borys Wrzesnewskyj]

You're over time already.

Mr. Tilson, you have seven minutes.

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

Good morning, Minister. I am glad to see you back in the immigration committee. You have a very challenging portfolio, and I offer my sympathy to you.

[John McCallum, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

I'm happy with it, so I don't need sympathy, but thank you.

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

Well, I don't want to congratulate you; I just want to offer my sympathy to you.

I have a couple of questions, Mr. Minister. You've brought over 25,000 Syrians in a relatively short period of time. One question that surfaces in my community is the issue of security. Normally, security takes awhile. It takes awhile to examine everyone; in other words, it takes time to determine whether people are who they say they are, whether there's criminal activity, whether there's terrorist activity, all kinds of things.

My question is, did you increase the staff to determine security? How can you satisfy Canadians that the security in determining the 25,000 refugees has not been compromised?

[John McCallum, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Tilson. I might say that when you chaired this committee when we were in opposition, I think you did a great job, taking a non-partisan approach. I hope your successor does the same. I'm sure he will, but it's good to see you again.

To answer your question, I'm convinced that we have done a good job on security. You don't really need to take my word for it. The head of the RCMP, the head of CSIS, and the head of border services have all professed satisfaction with the way in which they're doing security. Also, in my conversations with the Secretary for Homeland Security in the United States and the U.S. ambassador, both are concerned about security, but neither expressed concerns about our approach. They seem to be satisfied.

How did we do it? I think we had some 500 people mobilized in that region, some of whom were doing security interviews. We deliberately brought over some of our most experienced officials. They conducted interviews with each and every group, and they also took biometric evidence, which was correlated with U.S. databases. I think that's one reason U.S. authorities were satisfied.

I should also say that we took the people whom the United Nations defined as most vulnerable. The great bulk of those people were families, typically with large numbers of children. That might inherently be a lower risk group than single males. Also, because we have literally millions of potential refugees in the region, the officials used a very high standard. If there were any concerns whatsoever about any particular individual, that case was set to one side and considered at a later date.

When you put all of those things together, I think we can be pleased with the way we dealt with the security issue. I've always said that while we thought it was important to do it quickly, given the terrible conditions in which many of those people were living, it was always more important to do it right in terms of both security and health.

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

People from other countries who wish to come as refugees to Canada have said to me that they haven't heard from the government, and they're concerned that priority has been given to the Syrian refugees. There's one in my riding, a church group wants to bring in a group. They're not Syrians, they're from somewhere else. Months and months have gone by and they haven't heard from the government. I think I've even sent you a letter on that, which I'm sure your staff will respond to appropriately.

My concern is, hearing the people in my riding of Dufferin—Caledon, that other strains of refugees' applications have been prejudiced. They've been put down the list to accommodate.... There's no question that it was a political promise by your government to bring in 25,000 refugees. In fact, you even promised 50,000 at one point. I don't know how that's going. The concern is that the other strain of refugee applications has been prejudiced.

[John McCallum, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

Well, I never promised 50,000, but we'll pass that by.

I was very concerned about this same issue. I asked my department more than once whether refugees from other countries were held back or disfavoured in any way by the Syrian refugees, and the answer repeatedly has been no. The other refugees are coming as they were before, not faster, not slower. There were resources diverted from some areas to help Syrian refugees, but it did not have a negative impact on refugees from other countries.

The other, more general point I would make is that it was certainly right for us to give priority to the Syrian refugee crisis, because this is the worst refugee crisis the world has seen in decades. There are literally millions of displaced people as a consequence. It is tearing apart the European Union, and so it is right for Canada to step up to the plate and welcome 25,000 government-assisted refugees. I do not apologize for that; I am proud of it. At the same time, I can tell you that refugees from other countries have not been negatively affected.

[The Chair, Liberal, Borys Wrzesnewskyj]

Thank you, Minister.

We will now move to Ms. Kwan—

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

I have two seconds to say that we challenge you on that, but the chair's going to cut me off.

[The Chair, Liberal, Borys Wrzesnewskyj]

—for seven minutes.

[John McCallum, Liberal, Markham—Thornhill, ON]

Well, it's the rules that cut you off, not me.

[The Chair, Liberal, Borys Wrzesnewskyj]

I have the pleasure of making that decision.

Ms. Kwan, you have seven minutes, please.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

The clock for me starts now.

Thank you to the minister and to his staff. I have a list of questions, and so I think for expediency purposes I'm going to ask these questions, and maybe while the minister is answering the first ones, staff could look for information for the others.

First, how much funding is allocated for each individual GAR? Is there a breakdown of how the total number of GAR funding has been distributed by province?

When did the NGOs request the resettlement funding from the government for the Syrian refugee national project? When did they get the resettlement services funding from the government, across the country?

How much was spent, if any, on the renovations of the military bases, or was it just money held in contingency? How much was spent on the temporary shelters, broken down by month and by province?

How many IRCC staff, broken down by FTEs and dollar amount, are allocated to the Syrian refugee initiative?

As well, I'm interested in knowing how much funding has been allocated or used for primary health screening of Syrian refugees, and how much the government provides for individual primary health screening.

On the language question, can the minister confirm that the funding for the LINC program is being reduced by 3% to 8% this year, after a 7% cut?

Also, in the Lower Mainland in B.C. we have an early years refugee program, which provides for early childhood development and family support services to refugee families. With this Syrian refugee crisis, the workload has more than doubled, yet their funding has been reduced by 6%. I wonder whether the minister would be able to rectify this with the funding availability he has talked about.

I'll leave that there and group these questions into the Syrian file for now.