Citizenship and Immigration Committee on Dec. 2nd, 2020

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Thank you for the question.

We work in close collaboration with the Quebec government. I have spoken several times with my counterpart, Minister Girault. This collaboration is based on an agreement...

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

I'm sorry for interrupting, Minister. Your time is up.

We will now move on to Madame Normandin.

You have six minutes, Madame Normandin.

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Thank you very much.

Thank you very much, Minister, for being with us today.

I'm going to start with a somewhat mathematical question. I would like to know if you agree with me on the following principle: if your selection threshold is higher than the admission threshold, you create a bottleneck and you risk creating a backlog of files.

Do you agree with this principle?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

What I want to emphasize is that our plan is focused on jobs. We have the capacity to work with your province, Quebec, with whom we share jurisdiction over immigration. It's an arrangement that works well for both our governments.

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

I'm going to go a little further. In fact, let me take the opposite principle. When the current government took office in Quebec, there was a backlog of applications for permanent residence, including skilled workers. The government turned off the tap on selection so that we could reduce the backlog. From 45,000 backlogged files in July 2019, the backlog had grown to 33,800 files by May 2020. It has been gradually decreasing. Waiting times have slowly decreased from 28 months in July 2019, to 18 months in May 2020.

Does the minister agree that the strategy has worked relatively well in reducing the backlog and delays?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Our plan was to create jobs to attract the experience and expertise our economy needs. We are using immigration to advance and strengthen the economy. This is a very important goal, including for Quebec with whom we have an agreement and whose skills and immigration choices we respect. It's an arrangement that works very well for all of Canada.

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

I'm going to go a little further, because the minister does not want to comment on the Quebec strategy.

In a Radio-Canada/CBC report three weeks ago, federal officials said that the pandemic didn't really explain everything. The lowering of immigration thresholds set by the Legault government as soon as it came to power has had significant consequences.

I would like to know if the minister agrees with the statement that Quebec is partly to blame for the current processing delays.

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

As I said, there are some anomalies, but on our side, we have made investments to add resources and use the technology. We've also relaxed our policies somewhat. These examples show that we are more efficient.

With respect to our partnership with Quebec, we work closely together under the Canada-Quebec Accord relating to Immigration and Temporary Admission. We respect the jurisdiction of Quebec, which chooses its immigration levels.

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

I have a question about efficiency. Quebec City's current target for the number of skilled worker permanent residency admissions is 21,800 for the year 2020. As of August, only 7,600 files had been processed, so there are easily 15,000 left.

Is the minister confident that the 21,800 target will be met by the end of December?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

We will continue to invest on our side to improve efficiency. As I said, there are some anomalies caused by COVID-19, but we continue to look for good solutions to achieve our part of the plan.

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

So, if the target is not reached, it will not be because of the thresholds, it will be the fault of COVID-19.

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Yes, it's true that there are problems caused in part by COVID-19, but for the rest, we continue to look for solutions to be more effective. We have made investments, we have been flexible in our policies, and we will continue on that path to accomplish our part of the plan.

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Speaking of solutions, I'll give you one that Quebec asked for. It involves prioritizing the permanent residence applications of people who are already in Quebec. However, the federal government hasn't followed up on this request.

Does the federal government agree with the idea of prioritizing the permanent residence applications of people who are already in Quebec? This is a request from Quebec City.

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

That isn't accurate. I'm still in contact with my counterpart in Quebec. We're working together a great deal. Our two governments share responsibility for a number of issues. Our representatives are in contact each week to implement the status—

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

I'm sorry for the interruption, Minister. The time is up. I will have to move to the next member.

Ms. Kwan, you have six minutes for your round of questioning.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister.

Why won't the minister extend family reunification sponsorships for permanent residents to extended family members such as siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins? It would be an important measure for the people of Hong Kong and beyond.

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Ms. Kwan, we've done tremendous work in reuniting families, and we have done that by innovating and creating new pathways, including in the context of Hong Kong, where we are promoting existing pathways. We're going to attract the skills and experience that are necessary to ensure that we attract those individuals who wish to come from Hong Kong to lend a helping hand to our economy.

With regard to a broader definition of family, we have extended the definition of family for the purposes of reuniting families during COVID-19. That has contributed to the success. We know that there are still challenges. We've worked through those cases with your office and others, and certainly we will continue to be committed to family reunification.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

But with all due respect, Minister, that's only for temporary visits. It's not for permanent resident status.

With the escalating situation in Hong Kong, more and more people are at risk of persecution and are internally displaced. Canada used to have an immigration stream for the internally displaced: the source country class. That, however, was ended by the Harper government.

Now, I recognize that the program is not perfect, but the government can update a program so that Canada can provide a humanitarian pathway to safety for the people of Hong Kong. Will the minister undertake to put in a program of that type?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Ms. Kwan, as you know, we are very dedicated to continuing our commitments in the humanitarian space. The United Nations and many others have recognized Canada's global leadership.

For two years in a row we have been a global leader in resettling refugees, thanks to many initiatives, some of which we have continued to progress—not only private sponsorship, but important pilot projects such as the experienced mobility protected persons pilot; such as, for example, the additional protections that we have introduced as part of the Hong Kong initiative.

All of these are concrete examples that demonstrate our commitment to refugees and to providing safe harbour for the world's most vulnerable.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

The measures that the minister announced for the people of Hong Kong do not extend humanitarian measures; the minister knows that. That needs to change.

My constituent applied to obtain a copy of her proof of citizenship in January of this year, well ahead of the pandemic. It's now December, and they still have not heard a word from IRCC on this request. While she waits, she can't apply for medical, driver's licence, passport, or her CAVCO personnel number or ID, which is required for her employment.

What is the government doing to fix this process?

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Well, as I said in my introductory remarks, Ms. Kwan, we are reaching out to those individuals who had applied and who have not heard back, as well as to those who had received visas that are expired under the permanent residency application process. So we are—

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

I'm sorry, I'm going to interrupt for a second.

This is for the proof of citizenship, Minister.

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Yes, and I was coming to that example, Ms. Kwan. I'm just demonstrating that we are being very proactive in reaching out to those individuals who have applied and who have not heard back.

With regard to citizenship, we are adding resources and are prioritizing so that we can ensure that citizens are able to achieve that milestone as quickly as possible. I mentioned the innovation in that area—going virtual when it comes to ceremonies and to testing as well. We will certainly endeavour to reach out to anybody who has applied, as quickly as possible.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

This is actually for a proof of citizenship; it's not for a new application.

Maybe I can follow up with the minister and his staff directly on this case.

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

I'm sorry, Ms. Kwan, I have a more precise answer. I apologize for that.

Between April 1, 2020, and October 31, 2020, almost 14,000 proofs of citizenship were issued. We have, then, made progress and will continue to work on this priority.