Citizenship and Immigration Committee on Dec. 7th, 2017

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

The honourable member should know that what we are doing is what you didn't do, which is consult experts on what should go into the citizenship guide. That's what we're doing.

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

Mr. Chair—

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

When the citizenship guide comes out, you'll see what's in it and what's not in it.

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

Mr. Chair, I'm asking a very simple question. There has been a lot of debate in the House of Commons on this issue. I would like an answer from the minister. Was the draft that was leaked to the media, which did not include female genital mutilation....

Do you know what? I'm going to direct it to the deputy minister.

Deputy Minister, was the draft of the citizenship guide that was leaked to the media earlier this year developed by your department?

[Marta Morgan]

We are in the active process on consulting, and there have been multiple drafts of the citizenship guide as we've consulted with various stakeholders. I can't comment on any particular document that was unofficially provided.

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

Is female genital mutilation included in the most recent draft that the department is working on?

[Marta Morgan]

We are in the process of consulting on that document, and it will be released when the document is final and ready for....

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

Deputy Minister, have there been groups that have advised the department to remove female genital mutilation from the citizenship guide?

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

Please answer very quickly. We're at the end of the time.

[Marta Morgan]

We are consulting with a very wide range of groups on a whole range of issues related to the citizenship guide. That consultation is active right now.

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

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

Ms. Kwan is next.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, and thank you to the officials and the minister.

The LINC money associated under the federal government grants and contract line item for 2016 was $4,661,193. That amount has been reduced to $4,164,743 in 2017. That's a drop of $496,450 per year. The government has told providers to expect a drop of 18% over the three-year term of their contract.

Can the minister advise why that reduction has taken place?

[Marta Morgan]

Could you provide more information on where those numbers are from? At the moment we're just having a hard time following what those are related to.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

This is from the federal government grants and contract line in the government's own documents. I'm not going to spend time waiting for an answer. I was expecting that we would have this information, given that this meeting is about supplemental estimates.

Would you undertake to look that information up and provide that information to us in writing after the fact?

[Marta Morgan]

Absolutely.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Within that undertaking, could you explain why this amount has been reduced, where it's being reduced, and where the impacts are of that 18% over three years? I know of at least one institution that is faced with that reduction, and they actually have a long wait-list of people trying to access the LINC program.

I'm going to ask another question related to the LMIA issue. Can the minister advise how many people were approved without the LMIA requirement under the international mobility program? Could I also get the breakdown under the different codes the government uses for the exemption and for that to be broken down by province and territory?

[Paul MacKinnon]

Mr. Chair, I can give some of that answer, and on some we'll probably have to get back to you.

In terms of the IMP work permits, in 2016 we had just about 210,000 issued. Out of that 210,000, about 75,000 were employer-specific work permits and 133,000 were open work permits.

In terms of all the different NOC codes, the National Occupational Classification codes, Mr. Chair, we would have to look into that and get back to you.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Yes, please do that. I am particularly interested in understanding and knowing how many people were exempt from the LMIA requirement and in the breakdown of that under the codes, divided up by province and territory so I know where they are coming from.

[Paul MacKinnon]

Just to be clear, Mr. Chair, all of those work permits through the IMP would be exempt from the LMIA, but we'll have to follow up on the NOC code piece.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Thank you.

With respect to the live-in caregiver program, the minister just talked about that. I have a very specific question.

Under the new program, the minister will know that the caregivers program is capped at 5,000 a year. I am wondering if the minister can advise whether that 5,000 cap has been met, and if not, what the number is at right now.

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

Just to give you the first response, it is no, the cap has not been met. In terms of the exact number, I'll let Dawn Edlund respond to that, or Harpreet.

[Dr. Harpreet Kochhar]

I don't have that exact number here, ma'am.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Can we get that number?

[Dr. Harpreet Kochhar]

Yes.