Citizenship and Immigration Committee on May 27th, 2024

[Arielle Kayabaga, Liberal, London West, ON]

I just wanted to make sure, because—

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

I'll just say that given the geopolitical considerations, let's assume that at some point this will come to an end. We will do our utmost to make sure that people can repatriate, if they so choose.

[Arielle Kayabaga, Liberal, London West, ON]

I just had to ask, because I think the confusion is there when it's a temporary measure.

I'll go back to the Sudan question. I won't ask any of the questions you've already been asked, because I've already picked up on those answers.

Under what circumstances would the department consider increasing the cap that we have right now?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

First and foremost, I think it's the situation on the ground.

Second, an important consideration because of limited resources, which are always a consideration in the logistics of trying to make these programs effective and implement them so that they have a measure of success, is largely looking at our humanitarian commitments—everyone knows that the catastrophe that's going on in Sudan is largely a forgotten war by the international community—and watching that quite closely, probably more closely than it has been to date.

[Arielle Kayabaga, Liberal, London West, ON]

Has this measure been effective? Is it meeting your targets or desired goal?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

I don't think anyone should be happy until people are here and we've ironed out some of the challenges with logistics in getting people here.

[Arielle Kayabaga, Liberal, London West, ON]

Would you mind mentioning those, Minister?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

There are challenges with respect to keeping track of where people are, making sure they're safe and making sure the application process is fully performed. It's very challenging to get biometrics done in an area that is still under constant attack or threat to populations. We're making sure we are being flexible in the context, as well as taking all the other measures we have up to now to ensure that thousands of Sudanese have been welcomed in Canada since the war broke out.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Thank you very much, Madam Kayabaga.

We will go to Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe for six minutes.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Minister, when you were speaking with my colleague Mr. Ali, you spoke about the impact of the conflict between Israel and Gaza here in Quebec and Canada, where quite a few serious anti-Semitic and Islamophobic incidents have occurred. It was mainly anti-Semitism.

As you said earlier that you wouldn't want their votes. You're right. No one wants people like that to vote for them.

Something unfortunate happened recently at a demonstration, when a well-known preacher openly called for the murder of Jews. According to the Criminal Code, fomenting hate against an identifiable group is a criminal offence, but there is unfortunately an exemption when it's based on religion. The wording is: “No person shall be convicted…if, in good faith, he expressed or attempted to establish by argument and opinion upon a religious subject…”.

The Bloc Québécois introduced a bill which explicitly addresses this. We simply want to amend the Criminal Code to remove this exemption. As you are the person who raised this matter in committee, I'd like to know what you think about the idea of removing the religious exemption from the Criminal Code.

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

I'm dismayed and disgusted to see someone say things like that against Jews. You are alluding to Mr. Adil Charkaoui—

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

I am.

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

—for whom there was no punishment or consequences. But then I don't want to make any assumptions about why the prosecutor decided not to lay criminal charges.

We need to see how it would work in the Bloc's bill, but generally speaking, even if the Bible can be used as an excuse for hate, it ought not to be allowed. It's only common sense.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Look at this slogan.

The bill is very straightforward and its intent is to amend the Criminal Code by just removing the religious exemption. I think we agree on that. Thank you for your reply, minister. We too found it disgusting.

Minister, you stated publicly that you would review the program from the humanitarian standpoint in order to find ways of getting Canadian families out of Gaza as quickly as possible.

Could certain parameters be made more flexible to speed up the reunification of these families, or at least shorten the time required? Are you monitoring this in real time or has there already been a decision not to change the parameters?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

I have something very important to add. It's not Canadian families, but the relatives of Canadian families. In other words, close relatives.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Yes, of course.

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

The reason for the security checks is that we don't know these people. Clearly, they are fleeing from the war. As you know, a mechanism is forthcoming, including a biometric analysis. People need to get out of Rafah.

We would naturally like things to move more quickly, but there are factors we don't control. For example, there's an operation under way in Rafah. We hope it will end; it's what we're asking for. Nevertheless, I think we've shown that we've managed to eliminate quite a few glitches in the program. My team is also in direct contact with many families, including those here today.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Some have already been granted permanent or temporary residence; they have therefore already provided their biometric data.

As they have already gone through the biometric authentication process, could the requirement for them to undergo it again not be waived? Or is the current way of doing it preferred?

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

I believe that previously provided biometric data is valid for five to 10 years. So the answer is that they shouldn't have to do it over again.

I know that you're not doing it on purpose, but you are in fact confusing the program that we introduced, which is not for permanent residents. These people—

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

No, that's not what I want to say. I'm not confusing anything. What I want to say is that some people have submitted an application under the program, even though they had received permanent resident status in the past, even though it's no longer valid today. This means that the biometric data has already been recorded.

You're saying that biometric data is valid for five to 10 years. Yet I understand that at the moment, even those whose biometric data is still valid need to provide the data once again. That's what people are telling me.

I'm simply suggesting that this step could be eliminated for people who already have valid biometrics.

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

I believe that the validity period remains the same and that they would not necessarily have to do it again.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Okay, I'm going to mention some cases in which, unfortunately, it all had to be redone.

It's not serious. If it can be sorted out, we'll sort it out.

I'd like to talk about Sudan. Since April 30, 2023, the Canadian government has prioritized temporary and permanent residence applications from everyone living in Sudan.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

The time is up, honourable member.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

How many applicants have received this priority processing since April 30, 2023?

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe, your time is up.

Honourable Minister, briefly respond, please.