Evidence of meeting #120 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 students.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Tom Kmiec Conservative Calgary Shepard, AB
I'm sorry, but I'm going to interrupt you. Could I define your answer as a conditional yes—yes, but with conditions?
Chair, Canadian Alliance of Student Associations
Yes, sure, with conditions—as long as it continues to promote how high quality the Canadian education system is and how we are willing to retain talent in Canada.
Conservative
Tom Kmiec Conservative Calgary Shepard, AB
Thank you for those answers.
I now turn to the representatives of the Fédération des cégeps.
Were you consulted before the changes were announced?
Co-Chair of the International Affairs Committee, Fédération des cégeps
Good morning.
No, we were not consulted before the changes were announced.
Conservative
Tom Kmiec Conservative Calgary Shepard, AB
Do you agree with the cap on international student permits?
Co-Chair of the International Affairs Committee, Fédération des cégeps
In fact, we can't object to soundly and ethically managed immigration. However, as my colleague said before, we do not have the necessary competence to offer a guideline relating to this recommendation.
Conservative
Tom Kmiec Conservative Calgary Shepard, AB
So you are not taking a position on that.
If the cap were to become permanent for international students, would you be in favour, opposed, or neutral?
Co-Chair of the International Affairs Committee, Fédération des cégeps
In fact, we believe we are not the cause of immigration problems. Student immigration is positive immigration. For the CEGEPs of Quebec, it is also francophone immigration.
Conservative
Tom Kmiec Conservative Calgary Shepard, AB
In his speeches, Mr. Miller talks about bad actors. Are the Fédération des cégeps and its members bad actors? From what the Minister said, it seems that you are the problem.
Co-Chair of the International Affairs Committee, Fédération des cégeps
We can confirm that we are not a bad actor. On the contrary: we contribute to the vitality of programs of study, of the development of post-secondary education, and of the development of a skilled labour force.
Conservative
Tom Kmiec Conservative Calgary Shepard, AB
I would now like to ask a few somewhat more specific questions that relate to how the CEGEPs manage the applications they receive from international students. I would like to know whether the Department of Citizenship and Immigration consults the CEGEPs or asks the CEGEPs to confirm that tuition fees have been paid before issuing a study permit to an international student who wants to study in Canada.
Co-Chair of the International Affairs Committee, Fédération des cégeps
No, there is no confirmation. The Department of Citizenship and Immigration asks the student to provide proof of their financial support, but it does not request proof that tuition fees have been paid before students arrive.
Ms. Casanovas, do you have anything to add?
Vanesa Casanovas International Attraction and Immigration Advisor, Fédération des cégeps
Good afternoon, Mr. Chair and the honourable member.
If I may, I am going to add to my colleague's answer by talking about some more technical points.
As my colleague said, it is Quebec's ministère de l'Immigration that deals with the necessary living expenses and tuition fees in the case of CEGEPs in Quebec, according to the ministère de l'Enseignement supérieur. The student must present proof at the time they apply for a CAQ, a Certificat d'acceptation du Québec, or for a study permit. The Department of Citizenship and Immigration or Quebec's ministère québécois de l'Immigration are the departments responsible for verifying these points.
On your question about tuition fees—
Conservative
Tom Kmiec Conservative Calgary Shepard, AB
I'm sorry to interrupt you, but I would like to ask you one last question.
Does the department ask you about international students who are attending one of the CEGEPs you represent? Does it ask you to confirm that the student is actually attending one of the CEGEPs you represent? Does the CEGEP know at what point the international student will be arriving in Canada?
Co-Chair of the International Affairs Committee, Fédération des cégeps
No, we are not in a position to verify that. We issue an admission letter, but we have no way of confirming or knowing whether they have arrived in Canada.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
Thank you very much.
Now we will go to Mr. El-Khoury.
Mr. El-Khoury, you have six minutes. Please go ahead.
December 12th, 2024 / 11:25 a.m.
Liberal
Fayçal El-Khoury Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I want to welcome our witnesses.
Before I start, I would like to pass the first minute of my time to Madam Salma Zahid.
Liberal
Salma Zahid Liberal Scarborough Centre, ON
Thank you, Chair.
Thank you, MP El-Khoury.
I would like to give an oral notice of motion:
That pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study of no more than two meetings to examine the temporary public policy to facilitate temporary resident visas for certain extended family affected by the crisis in Gaza, including the challenges that the Government of Canada faces in facilitating the exit of Gazans, the challenges faced by families leaving Gaza and once out of Gaza, before reaching Canada. That the committee invite the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship to appear for one hour with departmental officials and that department officials appear for an additional hour. That the committee invite affected families as well as Canadian civil society. That the committee report its findings to the House and that, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the Government table a comprehensive response to the report.
I will now pass my time back to MP El-Khoury.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
Thank you very much.
There is no debate on an oral notice of motion.
Mr. El-Khoury, please continue. You have about four minutes.
Liberal
Fayçal El-Khoury Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Ms. Laflamme, the new language proficiency requirements to be eligible for a post-graduation work permit are supposed to improve international graduates' integration and labour market results.
What is your assessment of the potential benefits of these criteria for international students and the Canadian economy and for protecting French in Canada?
Co-Chair of the International Affairs Committee, Fédération des cégeps
Thank you for your question.
I am going to let my colleague, Ms. Casanovas, answer it.
International Attraction and Immigration Advisor, Fédération des cégeps
Thank you for your question.
First, we are certainly in favour of knowledge of French. Moreover, that is established in Quebec's CEGEPs at the time of admission, since admission requirements include language requirements. Second, the Charter of the French Language also applies in the 48 CEGEPs in Quebec. That means that there are mandatory courses and also a test administered by the ministère de l'Enseignement supérieur for receiving diplomas.
So we have to point out that all these measures already exist, so that we can make sure our international students have the necessary language proficiency and have perfect or excellent knowledge of French, and our local students have to meet the same requirements.
Of course, no one can be opposed to making sure that graduates are proficient in the language. All our efforts are focused on that. With that said, the new language requirements very unfortunately do not take into account the fact that all these points have already been verified in advance in the CEGEP system, from admission to diploma granting.
Liberal
Fayçal El-Khoury Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
Ms. Casanovas, do you think that giving priority to international students who are in fields where demand is high, such as healthcare or science, technology, engineering and mathematics, commonly known as STEM, as provided in the new requirements for post-graduation work permits, effectively support Canada's long-term economic and innovation objectives?
International Attraction and Immigration Advisor, Fédération des cégeps
Thank you for your question.
The recommendation of the Fédération des cégeps is to ensure that graduates of all the programs offered in the CEGEP system and who obviously meet the criteria for post-graduation work permits continue to be eligible for those permits. This is because the education model in Quebec's CEGEPs is based on what is called matching training to employment. That means that all our programs, not just those associated with certain industries, meet the very stringent requirements of the ministère de l'Enseignement supérieur for being perfectly matched with labour market needs.
I will give my colleague back the floor, if she wants to add anything.