Citizenship and Immigration Committee on Nov. 25th, 2020

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

The current processing time for work permit applications is 137 days and 127 days for permanent resident card applications. This is purely administrative.

What is the minister going to do to speed up the processing of these applications?

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

Two of the things we are doing already are moving our processes—

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

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

We will move on to Ms. Kwan.

Ms. Kwan, you have two and a half minutes. Please start.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Caregivers, too, have been significantly impacted by COVID. Many of them are not able to fulfill their 24-month work requirement to apply for the PR card, and some of their children are now going to age out.

Will the minister count the interrupted time towards their 24-month work requirement and freeze the age of their children so they can still apply for their PR card as a family unit?

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

As I've said in the past, Ms. Kwan, and as you know, we have endeavoured to introduce policy flexibility to minimize the disruption of COVID-19 so that it does not count against those applicants who are endeavouring to become permanent residents.

We will continue to ensure that we take that principle and apply it to the caregiver program. Their work experience does not have to be consecutive; I would like to clarify that as well.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

I know that, but still, they've basically lost a year, which is a significant impact. Even if the government allows them to take three years to meet the 24-month work requirement, the impact is still there and is still felt. I'm saying they should not be penalized because of COVID. I urge the minister to consider counting that interrupted time and also freezing the age of the children so they don't age out.

On a different question, regarding the processing of PRs, one of my constituents urgently needs their PR card renewed so they can visit a dying mother, or in another case, a grandparent.

We found that the processing time is three weeks and that IRCC is now only opening packages from February 10. Even if they get their package opened, they would only consider urgent processing if the person has bought an urgent ticket, which is hugely problematic, on two fronts.

What can the minister do about this situation?

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

As I said, we will continue to make progress by adding resources and leveraging technology and streamlining our processes. We have made quantum leaps, Ms. Kwan.

When it comes to landing PRs, we will endeavour to continue making progress to make up for the disruption—

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Sorry, this is renewal of PRs. Will the minister ask his staff to consider processing urgent applications without having them buy a ticket so they can in fact get their application processed and visit dying family members?

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

Certainly we are looking at every option to minimize that disruption. For those who are trying to get here for a tragic event like a funeral or an end-of-life event, we also have the compassionate cases pathway as well, as a means to bring—

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

No, sorry, it's the other way around—

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

I'm sorry for interrupting, Ms. Kwan. Your time is up.

Minister, we had some disruptions. Are you okay to stay for 10 minutes so that we can finish the second round?

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

Of course. Yes, I'm happy to do that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you, Minister, for giving us the time.

We will go next to Mr. Hallan and then end with Mr. Dhaliwal.

You have five minutes.

[Jasraj Singh Hallan, Conservative, Calgary Forest Lawn, AB]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister, for coming today.

My first questions will be based on some of the PR questions we get in our offices. Throughout this entire pandemic, we've seen what some may call low-skill.... We know that all work has dignity behind it. Truck drivers have been risking their lives in providing life-saving supplies to everyone from coast to coast. We're not seeing a pathway for them to PR. Is there something we can do for those people to provide a pathway for them to PR?

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

Thank you, Mr. Hallan, for the question. As part of the immigration plan, which I tabled a little more than two weeks ago, I said that we will continue to grow through immigration. As well, I believe we have a unique opportunity to look at the workers, students and asylum seekers who are already in Canada, whose status may be temporary, as you point out, but whose contributions are lasting.

I think we are at a moment when it behooves us to determine whether or not there are ways to broaden the pathway and accelerate the pathway for those workers who are contributing in essential parts of our economy so that Canadians get all of the support they need through COVID-19.

[Jasraj Singh Hallan, Conservative, Calgary Forest Lawn, AB]

Thank you, Minister.

You know, we've heard from witnesses, and in my eyes this is very low-hanging fruit. These people, as you said, have been contributing to the Canadian economy. They pay taxes. They've contributed in many, many different ways. When we look at trying to meet the quotas, would it not make sense to target the low-hanging fruit first and give them a good pathway?

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

I think we will look at the talent and skill set within our borders and draw from a range of different skills. That will be very much part of the exercise of reaching the goals that have been set out in our immigration plan.

Certainly, the way I envision this exercise unfolding is looking at those parts of the economy and our workforce where we are in dire need. For example, in the health care sector, our doctors, our nurses, our pharmacists and our support workers have been working flat out to try to treat Canadians. I think we can take a look at that area to see whether or not we have workers, students and asylum seekers, as we have already done, and determine whether or not we can accelerate their pathway to being permanent residents.

I believe Canadians in those circumstances will broadly embrace that idea.

[Jasraj Singh Hallan, Conservative, Calgary Forest Lawn, AB]

Moving on to grandparents and parents sponsorship, we know that a delay happened right before the pandemic even happened. Essentially, what we saw was the lottery system; that was the exact same thing that came out. Right now I'm getting a ton of questions from my constituents and people from all across about the transparency behind this program. There are just so many questions behind the criteria. When will they get some answers? How many numbers do you guys have so far?

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

I appreciate the question. It allows me to highlight just how unique and one-of-a-kind the parent and grandparent program is around the world. It's a program that contributes to our already historic work on family reunification.

I'm also proud of the fact, Mr. Hallan, that we have been able to keep this program going notwithstanding COVID-19. As a result, we have 40,000 allocated spaces over the next two years, the greatest number over that period of time, and it's a very important step—

[Jasraj Singh Hallan, Conservative, Calgary Forest Lawn, AB]

But do we have any timelines around that, Minister? Most of the anxiety from the people constantly messaging me and calling me is based on the fact that there's no timeline. They don't know what's going on right now. It was closed weeks ago. They just don't know what's going on right now. There's no transparency.

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

Our intention is to begin to ensure that people are made aware, but it is important that we continue to reunite families. The parent and grandparent program and the 40,000 allocated spaces over the next two years are a demonstration of our commitment to bring many loved ones together throughout the pandemic.

[Jasraj Singh Hallan, Conservative, Calgary Forest Lawn, AB]

I'd like to defer my last question to Ms. Dancho.

[Raquel Dancho, Conservative, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

Madam Chair, can you confirm how much time I have left?

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

You have 31 seconds.

[Raquel Dancho, Conservative, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

Minister, I just wanted to confirm what the process is.

If someone—a Chinese Canadian—is being intimidated by a Chinese Communist operative on Canadian soil and they report to the local police, what happens after that concerning your department? I want you to be clear on this.