Citizenship and Immigration Committee on Oct. 5th, 2017

[Niall Cronin]

I don't know the answer to the second part of the question, but certainly on the first part, that's the reason we're sending folks out to talk to the communities, to hear what they're saying and what community leaders are hearing from their own communities. Are people thinking about Canada as they're factoring in decisions about their future?

From the reporting I've seen, it's mixed. In some places, Canada is entering the conversation, and that came out in some of the conversations in Los Angeles, but in other places folks have just said, “Thank you so much for the information. If we hear anything brewing, we'll certainly let you know”, which was the point of the outreach, to build a relationship that maybe hadn't existed before.

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

So really there's no projection in terms of how many people or the volumes that might occur, let's say, in the next 12 months?

[Niall Cronin]

Out of the population that...no.

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

Thank you.

We've heard reports, and there was the story of Nigerian asylum seekers who entered Canada through illegal border crossings and said that they had heard about this “pipeline” that would get them to our borders. I'm wondering what diplomatic efforts with our allies in the region have been ongoing in attempts to dispel the notion of a pipeline to access Canada illegally.

[Niall Cronin]

That's a big part of the outreach in the United States. It is really reaching out to communities directly. Also, Minister Hussen was talking about his meetings in New York, and the groups he was meeting with had links into various communities, and so it was broader than just one group. The point of that is exactly to dispel the myth that there is this pipeline or some sort of free pass into Canada.

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

Have any border security issues been brought up with the Americans—or the Mexicans, quite frankly—as part of the NAFTA discussions?

[Niall Cronin]

That's a fair question. I don't know. I'm not involved in the NAFTA negotiations.

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

Okay. That would be interesting to know, because the minister did say that, to date, the safe third country agreement hasn't been brought up, and we're wondering why.

I'm just wondering if in either of your departments there has been any analysis on the potential effects of Bill C-59, in terms of the availability of either of your departments to share information with CBSA or IRCC or even the IRB, with regard to people who have sought asylum protection or have received it, and to identify them as potential public safety risks.

[Niall Cronin]

I'm sorry. It was Bill C-59...?

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

That's correct.

[Niall Cronin]

I can go back and check that, but again, because Global Affairs wouldn't be dealing directly with these people, there may not be. But I'll check.

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

Sure.

[BGen Lise Bourgon]

It's the same thing for CAF. We're not responsible. That would be CBSA, RCMP, CSIS....

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

Okay. Thank you.

With that, I'll turn the microphone over to Mr. Maguire.

[Larry Maguire, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Thank you.

Thank you for the work you're doing with regard to this whole situation.

Mr. Cronin, you mentioned that you deal with a lot of social media. You're looking at trying to provide clarity regarding a number of the statements that have been made and that sort of thing. I'm just wondering about the Prime Minister's tweet in particular, the tweet where he said:

To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength #WelcomeToCanada

I'm just wondering if that statement has caused any confusion in the States, because we have seen media reports about how people coming into Canada have actually used that as a statement, saying that it is why they're seeking asylum in Canada: “We're welcome here.” Have you had to clarify anything around that statement before?

[Niall Cronin]

In the reports I've read on outreach and in the various meetings that have taken place at the embassy and with our consuls general, that specific tweet has not come up. It's more about presenting general information about Canada's immigration system and asylum processes.

[Larry Maguire, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

It has come up in media reports, though, when people have been interviewed, when asylum seekers in Canada have come in. It's been one of the things brought up and mentioned by them. Do you think it's caused any confusion amongst any of those people who are seeking it...? Do they understand clearly what was meant?

[Niall Cronin]

Again, I go back to what I've read of the reports from the outreach and the meetings that have taken place. Really, it's more about passing on the correct information. Where the misinformation is coming from, I can't speak to.

[Larry Maguire, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

You've indicated that our consuls across the country and the teams in Washington and New York are working on this. Would it help if the Prime Minister were to tweet out something like “asylum seekers should not seek refuge by crossing illegally into Canada”?

[Niall Cronin]

I think the messages that have come from ministers, as we heard in the opening statements of Minister Goodale and Minister Hussen, have been quite clear, and we've been using those messages in our outreach in the United States.

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

Thank you, Mr. Cronin and Mr. Maguire.

Ms. Kwan.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Thank you to our witnesses for their presentations.

Mr. Cronin, in the work you're doing to reach out to the various different groups in the United States, have you heard from people who have cited concern with the fact that the U.S. is no longer a safe country for them, for a whole variety of reasons?

[Niall Cronin]

I'm not sure I would characterize it that way. I think what people have heard is that there is a lot of uncertainty. It's more that what people have heard in the communities is that Canada is an open door.

What we've been really trying to stress in the meetings is that Canada is a welcoming country, but there is a process that needs to be followed.

Minister Hussen talked about his time in New York and about how folks were surprised that we even remove people from Canada, or that somehow we have a special program for those who have TPS status in the U.S. Those are the things we're trying to correct.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

In that process, has nobody indicated, for example, the threat they feel given the height of anti-immigrant or anti-refugee rhetoric that's going on in the United States with the Trump administration's overall direction, first with the travel ban and now with his general overall indication that the immigrant community or refugee community are simply not very welcome in the United States? Did none of those issues surface in this discussion with any of the persons who you are in touch with?

[Niall Cronin]

It's a fair question and a fair point regarding the uncertainty that exists in the United States. What our people have tried to do is really focus on how we can give them the correct information to pass along to their communities, so their communities will be better informed. If that gives a measure of security or knowledge, that's what we're looking for.