Citizenship and Immigration Committee on March 10th, 2021

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

I know about those, but it's not sufficient. People are stuck abroad, and they can't come to Canada.

Can the minister confirm that Hong Konger in the U.K. would be able to come to Canada to seek refuge, or would that be considered asylum shopping?

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

As I said, we have numerous corridors. In fact, in the last year, we have seen a greater degree of travel from Hong Kong to Canada.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Sorry for interrupting, Minister, your time is up. Maybe we'll come back later to Ms. Kwan.

We will move to our second round of questioning.

Mr. Seeback, you have five minutes.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

Minister, you stated you're comfortable with the steps taken to manage risk. Does that include cybersecurity risks?

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

I said that I'm confident with the protocols we have in place. We work with—

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Does that include cybersecurity risks?

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

I was endeavouring to answer your question, Mr. Seeback.

Yes, we work with leading national security agencies prior to the installation of equipment to monitor cyber threats.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Would that include CSIS here in Canada? Would it be looking at the cybersecurity risks of these offices?

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

To the best of my knowledge, this is probably a question best directed to Public Safety, but the Communications Security Establishment has the remit and the mandate to monitor cyber threats.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Do you rely on their advice in this area?

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

Yes.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Can you explain why Richard Fadden, who was the former director of CSIS, has stated very clearly that with the set-up we have, “I cannot think of a more promising entry point for China’s cyberspies.”

This is a person who has extensive knowledge of the ability of China's cyberspy technology, and the systems that they would have in place. He served two prime ministers, and he is saying, very clearly and very directly, that this is an entry point for China's cyberspies.

Are you agreeing or disagreeing with this assessment, and if he's wrong, how is he wrong?

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

I think embedded in his statement is that all departments have to work together.

I can assure you, Mr. Seeback, that is precisely what we have done in the context of this contractual arrangement. We work with PSPC, we work with leading security agencies, and we will continue to do that to manage the risks.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

We've been advised that Huawei technology has been installed there. What is the risk assessment with respect to this technology being hacked by cyberspies, because Richard Fadden is saying it's a promising entry point, and I would think that's one of them?

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

As I've said, we will continue to work very closely with PSPC as well as leading security agencies to vet all of the equipment that we use in our visa application centres. We closely monitor the operations of that equipment.

Once visa application information is uploaded from the visa application centre to a government system, which is stored here, that information is erased. That is one of the many ways in which we protect the integrity of our systems.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Can you hazard a guess as to why someone with so much experience in cyberspying would make such a bold statement, saying this represents a very promising entry point for China's cyberspies, which is in direct contradiction to what you're saying to members of this committee?

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

I don't believe that it is, but more to the point, it is not for me to speak to the state of mind of Mr. Fadden or anyone else.

I am here, on the other hand, to shed light on how we screen and vet our personnel, our equipment and our procurement process. I have laid that out with some specifics.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, Canada could designate people as refugees within their country of origin.

Is this something that the government is considering in order to help the people in Hong Kong who may very shortly, as Ms. Kwan pointed out, be subject to no travel?

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

Your question allows me to indicate that we've put in place two new protections to offer some safeguards for those exercising the right to peaceful protest, and wishing to come from Hong Kong.

We have an asylum system that is revered around the world. Those who come will have their claims heard by experienced jurists, and where those claims have merit, they will be permitted to stay in Canada.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

That wasn't my question. I was asking whether you were considering using the powers under the IRPA to designate people as refugees within their country, as part of a source country class.

Is this something you're considering doing, yes or no?

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

Mr. Seeback, as I said to Ms. Kwan, our government will keep our eyes open to options. Our fundamental objective in announcing this initiative was to create stronger people-to-people ties with economic opportunities, but also to add protections to those exercising the right to peaceful protest in that part of the world.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

You have 30 seconds left.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

I'm trying to get a yes-or-no answer, but I don't think I'm going to do so.

Will you consider reintroducing this program? There was a program like this up until 2011. Would you consider redoing this program for Hong Kong? Why or why not?

Please answer that directly.

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

In fact, that is not a yes-or-no question, but I will still endeavour to answer it. We will keep—

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

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

Before I do, I want to remind everyone that when you are not speaking, your microphone should be on mute. As another reminder, all comments by members and witnesses should be addressed through the chair.

Thank you.

Mr. Dhaliwal, you have five minutes. Please proceed.