Evidence of meeting #33 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was work.
A video is available from Parliament.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Sorry, Minister, my question is about people whose work permits might have expired after they have applied. Will they be provided with a bridging work permit?
Liberal
Marco Mendicino Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
As my colleague knows, we have introduced policies during the pandemic to allow those with expired work permits to have them extended until the end of the year. That process is very straightforward. It's very simple. We have a very short turnaround on those extensions. In fact, it's significantly less than our service standard for extensions. By doing so, they will then qualify—
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Minister, I'm sorry to interrupt, but...not if their work permit is tied to a specific employer. If they don't have a specific employer, they would not be able to get renewed.
Liberal
Marco Mendicino Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
Madam Chair, in fact, in some sectors, we have created work permit flexibility for those who are here on closed work permits to then transition to other employers under the LMIA regime.
The point I would make, Madam Chair, is that we have addressed policies to reduce the disruption that has been caused by the pandemic to provide greater certainty with regard to status. The essential workers pathway is a monumental step in that direction. It will allow not only the 90,000 who are eligible under it, but also those they may sponsor, to achieve permanent status as well.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid
We will now proceed to our second round of questioning, starting with Mr. Seeback for five minutes.
Conservative
Kyle Seeback Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Minister, I assume you're aware that you publish on websites the processing times for the various immigration streams.
Conservative
Kyle Seeback Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Would you agree with me that people who look at those processing times would rely on those processing times and have some expectation that those processing times would be accurate?
Conservative
Kyle Seeback Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Well, Minister, I can tell you that what is being experienced in my office—and speaking with many offices around the country—is that the processing times that are published on the website are not even remotely accurate. In fact, my office has spoken with some people at IRCC who say that they know the processing times on the website aren't accurate, but they don't have the authority to update the processing times on the website.
For example, the processing time for spousal sponsorship is listed at 12 months. Most files in my office are going well beyond 18 months at this point. I understand the pandemic has taken an effect on processing applications.
Will you commit today to having your department review the website processing times and update them with accurate processing times to reflect the current reality?
Liberal
Marco Mendicino Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
We will certainly endeavour to ensure that our processing times are always accurate, Madam Chair. I do want to say that there are going to be cases—as my colleague knows because he has experience in this area—that are complex. For a variety of reasons that have to do with the particular circumstances of the applicants, they will fall outside of the service standard. It is often those cases that make their way to my parliamentary colleagues
I would just encourage...and I in no way diminish the anecdotes and personal experiences of my colleague. I know he brings those cases to my office, as do others. We try to work through them. The service standard is there as a goal to encourage transparency and accountability. Of course we always endeavour to make sure that they are accurate.
Conservative
Kyle Seeback Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
I just want to be clear. Your undertaking is that you're going to ask your department officials to look into whether or not the websites are accurately reflecting the processing times and if they are not, the websites will be updated.
Liberal
Marco Mendicino Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
I don't think we need to get into the legalisms of calling it an undertaking. My point, as my colleague knows, is that my department and my office are always endeavouring to ensure that there is accuracy and transparency with regard to our processing standards. That is something that we do every day.
Conservative
Kyle Seeback Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
I want to switch gears slightly.
When I was on this committee before, Minister, there was a discussion about whether or not the decision-making ability was taken away from the Chandigarh office for processing of visa and other applications. Are decisions still being made in the Chandigarh office or have those all been moved to New Delhi, as an official told me around December of 2019?
Liberal
Marco Mendicino Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
Certainly, I would say that my officials gave you the best available information at that time. Since then—as my colleague knows, Madam Chair—there have been additional office closures in India as a result of the surge of COVID cases there. That has, without question, had a significant impact on our operations. It may be that my officials may have more up-to-date information in response to the precise nature of your question, but since the last time you asked about it, the surge has definitely impacted our operations in India.
Conservative
Kyle Seeback Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
I have one final question for you, Minister.
I have spoken with many members of the Portuguese community who talk about undocumented workers who are living and working productively in Canada. They don't have status. They are looking for an amnesty for workers who are gainfully employed in this country, particularly in the trades, which is an important sector in this country, in the Portuguese community. Have you looked at this: whether or not you will consider granting an amnesty to Portuguese workers in the trades industry who are gainfully employed?
Liberal
Marco Mendicino Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
Not only have we looked into this matter but we've acted on it. In fact, we very recently announced the next stage of a pilot program with the Canadian Labour Congress and other labour leaders, including LiUNA, that would allow us to grant status to those who have fallen out of status and who work specifically in the construction and building sector. This is something that I know a number of parliamentarians have been working on for a very long time. I think it demonstrates an opportunity to recognize the contributions of those who helped to build this country with their skills and with their experience but who have fallen out of status for reasons that may have been beyond their control.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid
Thank you, Minister.
We will now proceed to Ms. Dhillon.
Ms. Dhillon, you will have five minutes for your round of questioning. You can please proceed. The floor is yours.
Liberal
Anju Dhillon Liberal Dorval—Lachine—LaSalle, QC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I thank the honourable minister for taking part in our committee meeting today.
There is no doubt that immigration is essential to economic recovery across Canada, including in Quebec. Quebec's business sector is calling for more foreign workers to help alleviate labour shortages.
How can the federal Department of Citizenship and Immigration help them?
Liberal
Marco Mendicino Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
Madam Chair, I would first like to thank my colleague for her work on this issue, which is very important for her community and for everyone in Quebec and Canada. I also thank her for her question.
As I said when I responded to my colleague from the Bloc québécois, we know that immigration is essential to the economy. We know that many businesses in Quebec, including chambers of commerce, have asked Quebec to increase its immigration targets. As for the federal government, it is working with the provinces on the temporary foreign worker category and that of immigrants seeking permanent resident status, and there is good cooperation.
In the case of temporary foreign workers, as I said earlier, a lot of progress has been made. We have issued over 1,000 temporary work permits so that Quebec could have access to the workers it needs. We will continue in this way.
Liberal
Anju Dhillon Liberal Dorval—Lachine—LaSalle, QC
Thank you, Minister.
Earlier, you mentioned that immigration creates prosperity. You also mentioned that you would issue work permits in Quebec to help the Quebec economy.
Can you tell us about it, please?
Liberal
Marco Mendicino Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
Yes, absolutely.
It is not just a short-term challenge, it is a long-term challenge. There are demographic challenges caused by an ageing population, and immigration is used to address these challenges. So in the long term, we need to continue to increase our immigration levels. I think the Government of Quebec had chosen to increase its targets. This is good news for Quebeckers.
In the short term, we have made a lot of progress. By the end of May, we had already issued over 14,000 work permits to temporary foreign workers in Quebec's agricultural sector. This is another example that shows that we are allowing Quebec to welcome all the immigrants it needs.