Thank you, Madam Chair.
Upon reflection on our first committee meeting and very much looking to working as a team and dealing with the many very difficult and sensitive immigration issues we have, we've revamped and refocused the motion from the last committee meeting to be more specific after receiving feedback from the last committee. I would like to put forward that motion now.
It is as follows:
That, pursuant to standing order 108(2), the committee commence a study to examine the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on Canada's immigration system, and that this study evaluate, review and examine issues relevant to this issue, including the following:
(a) application backlogs and processing times for the different streams of family reunification and the barriers preventing the timely reunification of loved ones, such as denials of temporary resident visas because of section 179(b) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations and the ongoing closures of Visa Application Centers;
(b) examine the government's decision to reintroduce a lottery system for the reunification of parents and grandparents; to compare it to previous iterations of application processes for this stream of family reunification, including a review of processing times and the criteria required for successful sponsorship;
(c) temporary resident visa (TRV) processing, delays faced by international students in securing TRVs particularly in Francophone Africa, authorization to travel to Canada by individuals with an expired Confirmation of Permanent Residency; use of expired security, medical and background checks for permanent immigration;
that the committee hold at least eight meetings to hear from witnesses; that the committee report its findings to the House; and that pursuant to Standing Order 109, the government table a comprehensive response thereto.