Evidence of meeting #101 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was program.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Marc Miller Liberal Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC
I didn't hear the question properly, Mr. Chair, because you interrupted him to say that his speaking time was up. We could provide him with full information about all the people in question.
Liberal
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Thank you.
I'm going to ask a few more questions on Gaza, and then I'm going to move on to Sudan.
Could the minister advise us of the number of people who have crossed to Egypt for Canada, and who have managed to cross from January until now? In the U.S., we know there are at least 435. In Italy, there are 317. In Australia, there are 300. What's the number for Canada?
Liberal
Marc Miller Liberal Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC
The number of individuals who have departed Gaza independently is at about 1,214. As for the assisted departures, which I think you were alluding to, since the beginning, it's 2,588. Again, though, you'd have to ask me a more precise question.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Okay. I'm going to pause this question then.
What work is being done to look at other borders and options for people to cross outside of Rafah?
Liberal
Marc Miller Liberal Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC
Currently, we continue to advocate for a managed exit at any border that is available, but as you know, there are none that are open at this time. This is a continued diplomatic effort as part of the advocacy for a ceasefire and access to humanitarian aid.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Perhaps we can get something in writing, or perhaps when the officials are up, we can get a more detailed answer than, “Hey, we're trying, but nothing is happening.”
There are people in Egypt who managed to cross the border on their own, but they're stuck. Their applications have not been processed, so no TRVs have been issued, and this is supposed to be a first in, first out process.
Why have these people not been issued TRVs? How many people are stuck?
Liberal
Marc Miller Liberal Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC
I can't tell you that or presume that's an accurate statement. People have to go through the eligibility in the program. If they have crossed over from Gaza into Egypt, they are safe, thank heavens. They are eligible for the program. We are doing our utmost to get them to Canada.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Based on the survey of families, we have 914 applications that are in Egypt. Of those, 121 got visas, and they've been there for a very long time. The rest of them are just stuck in the system.
I'm going to come back to that with the officials later.
On Sudan, what we know is that the quota of 3,250 has now been reached. How many of those have been issued visas?
Liberal
Marc Miller Liberal Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC
That work is still ongoing at this time, so I don't believe any in the context of this program.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Okay. The conflict has been occurring since last year, and it took the government eight months to announce this program. To date, we're expecting, based on the answers, it will be almost two years before anybody can get to safety. What is the holdup?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
The bells are ringing. Do we have unanimous consent to carry on with the meeting?
Conservative
Brad Redekopp Conservative Saskatoon West, SK
Normally, my colleague doesn't want to do that, but we would be willing to let the NDP finish their round and then suspend the meeting.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
I have stopped the clock.
I need to know if I have unanimous consent to carry on with the meeting or if we will stop the meeting.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
The committee is sovereign. If Mr. Redekopp's proposal is that we allow Ms. Kwan to finish her comments, and then suspend the meeting, we are entitled to do that. If the Conservatives wish to allow Ms. Kwan to finish her round, I am definitely in favour of that.
Thank you.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
Okay. I will carry on with Madam Kwan.
Madam Kwan, you have three minutes left.
Liberal
Marc Miller Liberal Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC
There was a question for me. Do you want me to take it?
NDP
Liberal
Marc Miller Liberal Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC
Let's not presume that nothing has happened. We have evacuated 846 people.
Under other programs, we have about 4,200 people who are here, but under this program, which was launched earlier this year, the process is still ongoing. The intake cap has been recently achieved, as of May 6, so no visas been issued in this context.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
The issue here is why it is taking so long. Is it a problem with issuing visas and getting people to safety because of staffing resources, or is it because of the immigration level numbers that are actually limiting the ability for the government to move people to safety in a much more expeditious way?