Citizenship and Immigration Committee on March 20th, 2017

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

—to help—

[The Chair, Liberal, Borys Wrzesnewskyj]

Order.

Ms. Rempel, please proceed with your next question.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Canada Gazette posted the statement that the net cost to Canadians of lifting the Mexican visa initiative will be $261.9 million. Why has the government proceeded with lifting the Mexican visa in light of this particular piece of information?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

Thank you for the question. I will defer to my officials for the answer.

[Richard Wex]

Thank you, Minister.

The member is correct that the net monetized cost for the lifting of the visa, net of the cost and the benefits, is $260 million over 10 years. However, those are the quantified costs—

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Thank you.

[Richard Wex]

—and if I could just complete, there are additional—

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

With regard to the supplementary—

[Richard Wex]

Excuse me—

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

I only have a minute.

[Richard Wex]

There are additional benefits that have not yet been quantified.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

With regard to the supplementary estimates, $13 million has been allocated for the lifting of the Mexican visa requirements. Was this figure included in the $261.9 million that was quantified in the Canada Gazette?

[Richard Wex]

In terms of the supplementary estimates and the main estimates, the costs, I believe, were $4 million and $1.3 million. Those operational costs are for increased traveller screening, increased processing of eligibility claims for asylum seekers, and interim federal health benefits. To answer the member's question, yes, they were included in the costs.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

How long do I have, Chair?

[The Chair, Liberal, Borys Wrzesnewskyj]

You still have 40 seconds.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

With regard to that, can the minister please provide an estimate of the cost differential between one government-assisted refugee from the Syrian cohort and one privately sponsored.... Actually, no, there's a better question. This year, of the additional cohort coming in as government-sponsored refugees, how many of those will be LGBTQ from Iran, Yazidi refugees, or persecuted ethnic and religious minorities?

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

You have asked three questions. I don't know which one is more of a priority, so I'll just go down the list.

[The Chair, Liberal, Borys Wrzesnewskyj]

Please proceed, one question at a time.

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

In terms of the LGBTQ2 community, we work very closely with the UNHCR, with private sponsors, and with other stakeholders to make sure we identify vulnerable populations to be resettled in Canada. That obviously includes members of the LGBTQ2 community. We continue to do that. We have a policy of vulnerability as a check and, obviously, membership—

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

With the five seconds I have remaining—

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

Membership in the LGBTQ2 community—

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

With the five seconds I have remaining, is it correct, sir—

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

Membership in the—

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

—that the government has not set a target for LGBTQ communities [Inaudible—Editor].

[The Chair, Liberal, Borys Wrzesnewskyj]

Unfortunately, the time has run out for this round of questions.

We'll proceed to Ms. Kwan, please, for seven minutes.