Citizenship and Immigration Committee on Jan. 27th, 2021

[Eric Li]

Yes. Actually, I tried to answer Mr. Genuis' question.

The first thing we have to do is educate or maybe instruct our staff in the Canadian consulate in Hong Kong. I know of a Canadian who has been vocal in Hong Kong. He rides a motorbike in Hong Kong. He was almost run down by somebody. Somebody deliberately almost ran him down. He asked for the consulate's help, but was refused. Our staff should be more helpful in helping our activists in Hong Kong. I'm not sure he needs a special passport right now, but our staff should be more helpful.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Madame Martinez Ferrada, you have 15 seconds.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Madam Chair, she was sharing with me, but 15 seconds isn't enough to ask my question. Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

We will now move on to Madame Normandin.

Madame Normandin, you have two minutes for your round of questioning.

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

Thank you.

A bit earlier, I put the following question to the IRCC representatives. Last July, Great Britain set up programs to facilitate access to citizenship. I asked why the same thing was not being done here, and I was told that Great Britain has a special connection to Hong Kong. I was told that more emphasis was being placed on complementary measures.

Without going as far as citizenship, could we consider a program that would allow the granting of permanent residence? Is that a possibility that could be considered?

[Guillaume Cliche-Rivard]

Yes, absolutely. A special program was recently created for people working in the context of the pandemic. We have seen over time that, in exceptional or special circumstances, special programs could be created. A special program could very well be created to enable Hong Kong residents to access permanent residence, be it from Hong Kong or from Canada. This would be an accelerated process that would lead to permanent residence.

There was a program in Toronto for out-of-status construction workers. There are regularization programs. The ministerial power of the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship makes it possible to enforce public policy. Public policy stemming from the department could be established, so that an access to permanent residence program, along with relatively flexible criteria, would be created for Hong Kong residents. That would help us save as many people as possible and give them safety.

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

Ms. Go, Mr. Li, perhaps you would like to add something. I see you nodding your head.

[Eric Li]

The most critical thing right now is for them to come to Canada. It would be good to have a special program—a fast track—for them to become permanent residents or citizens, but the critical thing right now is to let them leave Hong Kong and come to Canada to settle, because of the hostile situation. They can be arrested at any time. I'm not sure how many can survive from now on, so we need to have some kind of mechanism to let them come in.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Sorry for interrupting, Mr. Li, but time is up.

We will now go to our last round of questioning, and that will be by Ms. Kwan.

Ms. Kwan, you have two minutes for your round of questioning. Please proceed.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

On the point about bringing a special program—a refugee program, in fact—working with NGOs.... Rainbow Railroad was a pilot program that the Canadian government did to support people from the LGBTQ2 community. I think we can duplicate that. Is that something you were referring to earlier, Ms. Go?

[Avvy Yao-Yao Go]

Yes, that would be another example. We need to work with NGOs to identify the activists—not just in Hong Kong, I would add, but also activists who are now stranded in Taiwan or the U.K. because that's the country they could exit to within that short period of time. We need to make sure they will also have a pathway to Canada.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Just very quickly, we were talking about the 300,000 Canadians who are abroad, some of whom may have given up their Canadian citizenship. Some of them were actually lawmakers in Hong Kong and had to give it up in order to run.

Should the Canadian government bring forward an initiative so that those who have given up their Canadian citizenship can now ask for it to be reinstated in light of the situation, if they're at risk?

[Avvy Yao-Yao Go]

Yes, I agree with that.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Thank you.

I have another quick question. We learned about VFS Global, which is a company that is now apparently doing contract work for the Canadian government, processing visa application information. Should we bring that work back in-house? I'm very worried about the people of Hong Kong.

I would like quick answers from everybody.

[Avvy Yao-Yao Go]

Yes.

[Eric Li]

Yes, definitely, because I heard that some information was leaked already. I cannot fact-check that, but I was told that some information was leaked because of.... Somebody went through that process. I'm really afraid this was not a single instance—it's probably quite common there.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

The Globe and Mail actually reported that there was a breach of security and IRCC wasn't even notified of that breach. That, to me, is very concerning.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

I'm sorry for interrupting, Ms. Kwan. The time is up.

With that, our second panel comes to an end. I want to thank our three witnesses for appearing before the committee and for providing important information as we start this study today.

Before we adjourn, I want to let everyone know that in regard to the adoption of the subcommittee's report, I will review the blues. Before we hear from the witnesses, we will start with the amendment that was proposed by Ms. Dancho so that we can adopt the subcommittee's report. We will start Monday's meeting with that. I will also review the blues if there is any confusion on that.

With that, I would thank everyone. I thank all the witnesses once again, and I thank all the members for today's meeting.

The meeting is now adjourned. I will see you all on Monday.