Citizenship and Immigration Committee on Nov. 6th, 2020

Evidence of meeting #4 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 applications.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Impact of COVID-19 on the Immigration System

Committee Business

MPs speaking

Soraya Martinez Ferrada

Also speaking

Clerk of the Committee Mr. Leif-Erik Aune

Raj Sharma Managing Partner, Stewart Sharma Harsanyi, As an Individual

Lorne Waldman Lawyer, Waldman & Associates, As an Individual

Guillaume Cliche-Rivard President, Association québécoise des avocats et avocates en droit de l’immigration

Stéphanie Valois Administrator, Association québécoise des avocats et avocates en droit de l’immigration

4:05 p.m.

Managing Partner, Stewart Sharma Harsanyi, As an Individual

Raj Sharma

Thank you, Mr. Waldman. Usually I would defer to you, but I think you and I are in agreement.

The weighted draw is a very, very simple suggestion. It can be easily implemented. A lottery is a lottery, which means that theoretically someone can apply for five years or 10 years and never be selected.

Mr. Waldman's other suggestion I would have to endorse as well. There are different types of visas. We can get creative. Look, we have to balance competing considerations, which is that there are simply not going to be enough seats, let's say, given our numbers. Demand will always exceed resources. That being said, Canada's approach, if you look internationally in terms of parents and grandparents, is better than the U.K.'s and better than Australia's.

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid

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

With that, today's meeting comes to an end.

To the witnesses, on behalf of all members of the committee, thank you for your flexibility and understanding of our having to go to vote and to move this panel. We really appreciate your input as we continue our study. If you want to submit something for the consideration of the committee, feel free to send it in a written submission. We will take it into consideration as we come to the drafting of the report.

I want to thank everyone for being here today.

With that, the meeting is adjourned.