Evidence of meeting #54 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 question.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
I would like a specific number, not your answer to this question.
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Borys Wrzesnewskyj
Order.
Committee members, I would ask that we do try to maintain decorum. It makes it very difficult to answer questions with interruptions.
Yes, Ms. Rempel.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
On a point of order, Mr. Chair, on that point, I do appreciate that the minister is trying to talk the clock out on this particular issue. I have asked him a very specific question, because we're dealing with supplementary estimates.
My question pertains to numbers, because I want to figure out if the budgetary estimate they've included in here accurately covers the cost of the cohort they're bringing in. Within the supplementary estimates there are another 10,000 refugees they want to admit. There's a budgetary estimate of $33 million for the same. If the minister cannot tell the committee how many refugees have come in and how many have found jobs, it's difficult for the committee to evaluate whether or not the budgetary estimate is adequate.
I would appreciate—on the point of decorum—the minister answering my question, which is the technical number of how many refugees have come into the country and how many have found employment.
Thank you.
Liberal
Ahmed Hussen Liberal York South—Weston, ON
Thank you for the question.
As I was saying earlier, we have definitely met our target of 25,000 government-assisted refugees, to resettle them in Canada, for the Syrian refugee cohort. In terms of the number of government-assisted refugees who have found employment, it's 10% for government-assisted refugees. It's much higher for privately sponsored refugees. That number is about 53%. That is par for the course, because in previous waves of refugees we've seen the same trends. But over a number of years, the two actually converge and you have the same amounts or—
Liberal
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Thank you.
By your numbers, 22,500 Syrian refugees have not yet found full-time employment, and many of those will see their “month 13” funding running out. What is the total anticipated cost of social assistance payments over the next fiscal year related to the 22,500 refugees who have not found full-time employment?
Liberal
Ahmed Hussen Liberal York South—Weston, ON
As I said earlier, for government-assisted refugees the percentage of employment tends to be lower than privately sponsored refugees. That is because they tend to be more vulnerable—
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
On a point of order, Mr. Chair, just so I don't get in trouble for decorum again—
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
—I asked a very technical question because, again, we're evaluating the supplementary estimates, which deal with budgetary measures. I realize that the minister would like to provide some talking points on why he can't provide this answer, but again, I'd like to be able to evaluate whether the budgetary estimates are adequate.
Mr. Chair, I would encourage...or perhaps I'll ask through you that the minister provide the committee with the technical answer for what I just asked.
Liberal
Ahmed Hussen Liberal York South—Weston, ON
As a point of clarification, the 10,000 refugees that the honourable member refers to are from 2016. We're not admitting an additional 10,000 government-assisted Syrian refugees. I just wanted to clarify that for the record.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
I will restate my question, Mr. Chair.
Of the 22,500 refugees that have not found full-time employment, what is the total anticipated cost in terms of social assistance payments that will be required to support the 22,500 who are not employed?
Liberal
Ahmed Hussen Liberal York South—Weston, ON
In terms of the month 13 question, it's common for government-assisted refugees to lose their income support after the first year of support by the federal government. The responsibility after that falls to the provincial government in terms of social—
Conservative
Liberal
Ahmed Hussen Liberal York South—Weston, ON
I'm trying to answer the question, Mr. Chair. I would appreciate not being interrupted.
The government-assisted refugees do have access to social services. In addition to that, these are permanent residents of Canada. They have access to other supports—
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'll proceed to my next question.
Conservative
Liberal
Ahmed Hussen Liberal York South—Weston, ON
They have other supports, including the Canada child benefit, that they use—