Citizenship and Immigration Committee on March 10th, 2021

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Sorry for interrupting, Ms. Kwan, but your time is up.

We will now move to our second round of questioning. We will start the second with Mr. Seeback.

Mr. Seeback, you have five minutes for your questions. Please proceed.

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

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

Forgive me if I don't know the answer to this. When we're talking about temporary foreign workers under the agricultural stream, I know that this is a big issue in my riding because we have a lot of farms. A lot of them rely on temporary foreign workers in the agricultural sector. Many of those come from the Carribean. Flights are not coming from the Carribean.

Could you update me on the status of what we're going to be doing with temporary foreign workers for the agricultural sector?

[Caroline Xavier]

As you note, seasonal agricultural workers are very important to the ongoing work we need to do to supply food to Canadians, so we work very actively with those countries from which they come, to be able to identify the various means by which they could make their way here. However, it's the employers themselves who are actually very good at trying to ensure that these workers can make their way to Canada.

For example, yes, they are using existing flights, but another way in which an employer can ensure that seasonal agriculture workers come is via charters. Charters are sometimes put in place so that they can come from Mexico, Honduras or the Carribean, as you mentioned, directly to Canada.

Despite the restrictions we currently have, temporary foreign workers and seasonal agricultural workers are deemed essential to the supply chain, so all necessary elements are being made for those who have the work permits in hand, to be able to make their way to Canada.

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

Thank you very much for that answer. That's great news.

Maybe you don't know this and it's not your department, but what quarantine protocols are going to be in place for a seasonal agricultural worker if they're able to come here? Will it be a 14-day quarantine like it was last year around this time?

I know that's certainly an issue, but they were able to adapt to that particular parameter.

[Caroline Xavier]

Ultimately, the public health and safety of Canadians is paramount in everything we're doing as a government, and all departments are seized with this. We really want to continue to ensure that anybody travelling to Canada, whether it is for essential business or other reasons, continues to adhere to the restrictions that have been put in place at the border.

As you've mentioned, currently the temporary foreign workers, as well as seasonal agricultural workers, are not exempt from the quarantine measures that have been put in place by the Public Health Agency. For the time being, until told otherwise, they will have to adhere to those measures.

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

If you don't know, that's fine and I'll move on to other areas that I want to question, but is that a 14-day quarantine or are they going to be caught up in the new mandatory hotel quarantine stays?

[Caroline Xavier]

For the time being, as we know it, it is 14 days of quarantine. Whether that changes or evolves has still to be confirmed.

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

Thank you very much.

With respect to LMIAs, there are two issues that I hear the most. Number one is the cost, which is $1,000.

What is the basis for the cost? Is there any decision to try to find ways to reduce that cost to the employer?

You could have a number of LMIAs that you're applying for. It's a large burden on employers.

[Caroline Xavier]

If I may, I will direct this question to my ESDC colleagues.

[Philippe Massé]

It's true that there is a fee in place. For certain parts of the program, it's important to note that employers in agriculture are currently exempt from the fee. That applies to over 60% of the positions in the program. Other employers are subject to a fee, partly to cover administrative costs. We are continuing to look at the fee and whether it's set at the appropriate level and whether adjustments need to made in line with the cost of the program. That work is ongoing with a lot of other elements that we're looking at in the program.

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

I have about 30 seconds left.

How much have processing times for LMIAs been affected with respect to COVID? Do we have a large backlog; and if so, are you tracking that backlog and have a plan to reduce it?

[Philippe Massé]

Interestingly, the processing times have actually been reduced by about a third during the pandemic. We have been working with our Service Canada colleagues to streamline the process. We have a new online application system as well to reduce some of the burden. Those measures are starting to bear fruit in terms of our processing.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Mr. Massé, I'm sorry for interrupting, but the time is up.

We will now proceed to Mr. Dong.

Mr. Dong, welcome to the CIMM committee. You will have five minutes for your round of questioning.

[Han Dong, Liberal, Don Valley North, ON]

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. It's always a pleasure to be on your committee. It's pretty well run. I'm happy that we have ministry officials answering questions.

I have a few concerns—well, not concerns, actually. It's an information-seeking mission, I guess.

I was very excited about the announcement about cleaning up the express entry pool, our inventory, back in the beginning of, I think it was mid-February, or the first week of February. I was really excited about that because I know over 20,000 applicants have been waiting patiently and were very anxious about the effect of COVID. They are now actually receiving a surprise invitation from the ministry. I know that over 70% of those applicants scored over 400 points, which is quite impressive. This means that they have a lot of work and study experience in Canada. It will help them integrate really well into our workforce.

I guess my concern is whether we have enough staff power to process, I think, upwards of 27,000 applications. Is it going to cause a lengthy delay or backlog in the system?

[Caroline Xavier]

As the minister stated, and as you are well aware, we have a very ambitious mandate to meet in this calendar year. We're committed to achieve it as much as we can. The call that was just put out in the express entry, as you mentioned, involved 27,000 invitations. It's definitely going to help achieve that goal.

As you've outlined, these are very qualified candidates who have been in Canada and who will be able to continue to assist us in improving our recovery and our economic prosperity.

Absolutely, we continue to see this as a priority. With regard to ensuring that we meet the levels planned, we feel comfortable that we are going to be able to continue to process those applications for those we sent the invitations to, and do so in the time necessary to be able to achieve the landings in this calendar year as per the expectation of the plan.

[Han Dong, Liberal, Don Valley North, ON]

That's really good to know.

Are we expecting this type of announcement will be going forward as a normal practice by the ministry?

[Caroline Xavier]

At this point in time, this was a one-time draw, because of the times we're in. These are not normal times as you can all appreciate. Our hope is that the border restrictions will eventually ease because the public health measures will permit it. We will be able to resume being able to bring others from overseas to come and land in Canada. They are also feeling that their lives have been disrupted, as I know you can appreciate. At this point in time, it was a one-time draw. I do feel that our provincial and territorial colleagues who have provincial nominee programs and really want to be able to draw from those in Canada, in particular, are happy to know that this was a one-time draw.

[Han Dong, Liberal, Don Valley North, ON]

That's great.

I have to recognize the incredible work that public servants like you have been doing over the last year. I say this not only because of what I've been reading or hearing in the caucus or from the ministry, but also from stakeholders. I work closely with the college in my riding. They've been repeatedly telling me that they have a very open channel with the ministry folks. That reflects in the announcements of a series of changes in recent months to help them to sustain and recruit more international students. I know we are coming to the peak season for new recruitments. Institutions are a little anxious. They know they have to get on a provincial list to show that the proper public health guidelines are followed and they have the facility to ensure the safety of all students and the general public.

They are wondering, as they go out there to recruit international students, if our officials abroad, especially from the main source countries, are ready to process those applications in time for the students to arrive.

[Caroline Xavier]

Thank you for your question. More importantly, thank you for the compliments to us in the department.

You're absolutely right. There's so much effort going in with regard to our student processing and the work we are doing with the institutions. We continue to be committed to ensuring we have an open dialogue with the institutions and stakeholders that you mentioned. We are working very closely with them—

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

I'm sorry for interrupting, Madam Xavier. The time is up. We will have to now move on to our next member.

Based on the time left, all of the four parties will have two minutes each for the round of questioning.

We will start with Madam Normandin.

You will have two minutes for your questions. Please proceed.

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

Thank you so much.

I also wanted to talk about international students, but perhaps from another angle.

We often hear about the difficulties universities face when they want to hire people, especially for practicums or co-op programs. LMIAs and work permits require a lot of paperwork. However, in this instance, the work is usual part-time and covers a short period. This makes things hard for employers who wish to keep employees that have already learned French, been trained and are integrated, as well as for students who, because of the bureaucracy-heavy programs, find us less appealing.

Have you looked at this issue?

What improvements can we hope for in the future?

[Caroline Xavier]

Thank you for the question.

As you've said, international students continue to be a very important immigration source. We want to carry on encouraging these students to see Canada as an education destination. We have excellent education institutions here in Canada. We are renowned for the quality of teaching offered in our universities and our CEGEPS.

As to the application process that the students must follow, improvements could be made easily, given that applications are submitted electronically.

I don't know if I'm answering your question, so I will ask Ms. Giles to talk to you about certain restrictions. She may have more information on the subject.

[Dr. Nicole Giles]

Thank you very much.

In terms of the process for study permits, as the associate deputy minister mentioned, that is a top priority for us, and we do have the resources allocated.

I'm very pleased to note that we have been able, even in 2020 in the most difficult of circumstances—

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

I'm sorry for interrupting, Dr. Giles. The time is up. You can also provide written answers to the questions to the clerk.

Now we will move on to Ms. Kwan.

Ms. Kwan, you will have two minutes for your questions. Please proceed.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

I've written to the minister about two caregivers who were infected with COVID-19 by their employers, and I have not yet received a response from the government. I hope that the officials can follow up with my office on that. One of those caregivers was fired by the employer while she was in quarantine.

What effort is being taken to support the caregivers in these kinds of situations? Also, with regard to the employer who deliberately withheld a positive diagnosis, would it be grounds for acceptance under the vulnerable foreign workers program?