Evidence of meeting #97 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 number.
A video is available from Parliament.
1:25 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Is there a particular position the government is taking in terms of levels as it relates to the global compact on migration that is being proposed?
1:30 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Program Policy, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Do you mean additional levels?
1:30 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Program Policy, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Not specifically at this point. It's just that more countries should sign up and look at resettlement issues.
1:30 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
As well, going back to the minister's comment that $440 million will be budgeted over the next three years to support levels, do you foresee any impact on that particular figure should the global compact be adopted in its current form by the government?
1:30 p.m.
Conservative
1:30 p.m.
Conservative
Larry Maguire Conservative Brandon—Souris, MB
In regard to the Romanian situation and the cap that has been placed on the Romanian immigrants coming in, is it safe to say, then, without giving us the numbers, that a good deal of the increase the minister talked about between 2018, 2019, and 2020 may be made up of those persons coming into Canada, or will the number be proportionate to other countries that we're bringing these refugees in from?
1:30 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
We've seen a very diverse group of countries represented in asylum claims into Canada from all over the world.
1:30 p.m.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I'll go back to my question about the caregiver program. Given the policy as it states today, for those who have not made the application, or those who will not meet the two-year work requirement by November 29, 2019, what will happen to them in the instance where they are faced with, let's say, an abusive employer and have to quit their job and then secure other employment, and therefore, not be able to meet their 24-month requirement? What is the policy in dealing with them right now?
1:30 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
There could be individuals in that situation, and that is something, we will be looking at as we look at the pathway to permanent residency for caregivers when the pilot project ends.
1:30 p.m.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
That is to say you don't know and you won't know until November 29, 2019.
1:30 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
I would expect we would know before then.
1:30 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
At the moment we're in the process of reviewing the pilot program, reviewing its results, and developing options for a path forward. We understand this is an issue that caregivers will want some clarity on as soon as possible, and we're working on it in order to be prepared for that 2019 deadline.
1:30 p.m.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Okay, so you don't have a timeline because you can't seem to give me a timeline at the moment. For those individuals who might be stuck in this situation, in your review process are you consulting widely with caregivers around this situation?
1:30 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
We're reviewing the whole program, and that will include consultations, yes.
1:30 p.m.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
How will they be able to contribute with their points of view? Will you be having town halls, public meetings? Will it be by invitation? How can people provide their points of view to the government for consideration?
1:30 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
The nature of the consultations has not yet been established, but we will make sure that committee members are aware of it so that they can provide that information to caregivers. We will also directly provide information once we have a consultation process set out.
1:30 p.m.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Can you also provide the committee with how many applications are in the system at the moment for those who came to Canada under the live-in caregiver program in 2017, just so we can understand how many people are likely going to be caught up in this system? Can you provide that number to the committee?
1:30 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Yes, we will provide that number to the committee.
1:30 p.m.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Thank you.
I'd like to turn to refugee issues for a minute.
How many applications are in the system for the one-year window of opportunity provision?
