Evidence of meeting #72 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 education.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Isn't one of the concerns created by this working group related to delays? You had a problem with delays, as you said, earlier. Some people experience delays of two or three years.
Do you fear that what has been put in place by the government is prolonging delays?
As an Individual
We are worried about this thing, and that's maybe why we came here to speak up—so we can do this process more quickly. We can give some suggestions to the task force. We gave two filters to them—our capability and our intentions—so they should watch these things. They should do it quickly, to give justice to the students.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Very well.
You've answered all of my questions. I will give you the remainder of my time so you can tell us what you would like to say to the federal government.
Please go ahead.
As an Individual
First of all, thank you so much for inviting us and for giving us this opportunity. This is a very rare opportunity that nobody else gets, and we got this chance.
We just want to say one thing. We are capable. We are capable of obtaining the original offer letter, so why would we need the fake offer letter?
The second thing is that our intention is clear. Imagine you had a fake offer letter in your hand to come to Canada. Would you go to any school? The person who just wants to come to Canada with a fake letter will never go to school, but these students went to school. It was clearly their intention to study, and they completed their studies.
Thank you so much for this opportunity.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid
Thank you, Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe. Your time is up.
We will now proceed to Ms. Kwan for two and a half minutes.
Ms. Kwan.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Thank you.
I also just want to take a moment to recognize the South Asian community. When I was at the gathering in Brampton, there were about 200-300 people who showed up to support the students, and who just really treated you as though you were their children. It was very lovely to see. It was the strength of the community that really showed, which I very much appreciated.
I want to make a point of clarification here in terms of the supposed “special treatment” of giving the victims or the students an alternate permanent residency pathway. Isn't it the case that the students have paid exorbitant amounts of tuition fees, not because you're international students but because you're victims of fraud? You have had to pay tuition fees multiple times, and didn't actually get a return for those education fees. In addition to that, you're also faced with a situation in which you have had to hire lawyers to fight this battle, which is also costing a significant amount of money.
In light of the emotional stress and the trauma that you have experienced throughout all of this, the call is for the government to recognize that, to act in a compassionate and humanitarian way, and to offer you a special alternate pathway for permanent residency. Isn't that what you're calling for? It's just for me to be clear and to understand.
As an Individual
Yes, you're right.
We have to understand what our biggest loss is in this process. Our biggest loss is not the money. Our biggest loss is our precious time. That time, and the mental harassment we are facing right now.... We are feeling helpless. That mental harassment and the precious time we lost cannot be compensated for.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Some of your family members have reported the matter to the police. In some cases, I'm advised by students that when they reported it to the police, the police wouldn't believe them. In fact, the unscrupulous actors were harassing your families back home. That is a price the family is paying, too.
Can you elaborate on that for us?
As an Individual
Most of the students filed a complaint against those agents, but in the initial stage, the police didn't file anything against them, because these guys have political connections. Maybe they are so financially strong in India, and that's why the police didn't file anything, but now we are seeing some success in that.
There are some files and cases against them, so we hope for the best.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid
Thank you, Mr. Singh. The time is up for Ms. Kwan.
There are some members who are interested in having another two minutes for the Conservatives and two minutes for the Liberals. That might shorten the duration of the second and third panels.
Are all members okay with having another four minutes with this panel, before we suspend it?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid
Okay.
We will have two minutes for Ms. Rempel Garner, and then we will come to the Liberal side.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Briefly, Ms. Rho, on your recommendations, are you saying, essentially, there should be some sort of legal requirement for colleges to warn students that if they are receiving advice, it should be from a list of government-approved consultants?
I have only two minutes.
Organizer, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change
This case of the students facing deportation clearly shows that colleges and universities were looking away. The regulatory mechanism we're proposing is a way for them to not look away.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
That's what I'm looking at; there needs to be some sort of legal requirement.
The second thing I wanted to ask was this: Do you think there should be legal consequences for colleges that are engaged in this activity and that are not providing students with warnings, their rights or whatnot? Would you go as far as to say that?
Organizer, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change
If they're not compliant with the rules of the regime, they should face penalties, yes. I have printouts for everybody to read.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Please table that with the committee.
The last thing is that I think we have to be careful that we're not creating a pull to Canada for actual admissibility, but that we're also putting safeguards in place. There's dealing with the situation and the fraud that's happened here, and the lives that have been affected, but also making sure that our systems aren't creating pulls or loopholes in the future that could create more problems.
What I heard from you and from the testimony here was that there needs to be some sort of requirement for any sort of consultant who's providing advice abroad to be legally registered or listed with the Canadian government and for colleges to have some sort of requirement to disclose that list to students, and some sort of legal mechanism or requirement for colleges to be compliant with that sort of regime.
Is that broadly what you were getting at?
Organizer, Migrant Workers Alliance for Change
Yes, and fundamentally that students have the power to protect themselves if and when these situations happen. That's possible only through permanent resident status.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid
Thank you. Your time is up, Ms. Rempel Garner.
We will end this panel with Mr. Dhaliwal for two minutes.
Go ahead, Mr. Dhaliwal.
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Surrey—Newton, BC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Again, I want to thank, in particular, Lovepreet and yourself for being able to visit.
Thank you for coming and talking to me in my office and in the online meeting with the other students. I was very impressed by the way you handled it. You went to school. You got 80-plus per cent. You have been working with the same company for the last five years, and the same company owner has given you a very good reference. I don't think the task force has any problem—from the discussions we had with them—because you have already applied for TRP status. Basically, people like you had the intention, from day one, to study.
I'm sure it's a similar case with you, Lovepreet—that you are capable.
They had no issues. I think it's going to go very fast. I will tell you right now that we asked all the questions. You asked whether you were able to bring your lawyer. You don't need to, because it's going to be an exchange of information, but you are welcome to, if you want to get your lawyer involved.
If you have any further questions, don't hesitate to write to a member of Parliament. They will be able to bring those answers to you. You do not have to spend any more money. You do not need to be under stress. I will tell you—I give you my assurance—that everyone on this committee, I'm sure, is fighting for you as long as.... You were capable and honest. Your intentions were very clear. I can tell you that, on the Liberal side, the minister is very committed to helping people like yourself.
I wish you the very best, and I thank you for your leadership, as well. Make sure you are the leaders of today and tomorrow, and bring awareness throughout the globe, particularly in India and Punjab, so no other student falls into the trap you did.
What would you do to do that?
As an Individual
First of all, thank you so much for that, sir.
Our organization has already started this campaign. We are awaiting other students. They might be in India. We will try to make it bigger, and we'll choose a different path to inform students: “Stop listening to these ghost consultants; try to find colleges by yourself and have a bright future in Canada.”
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid
Thank you.
Mr. Dhaliwal, your time is up.
With that, I want to thank all three witnesses for appearing before the committee.
I will suspend the meeting for a few minutes so these witnesses can leave and we can have the next witnesses.
With that, the meeting is suspended.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid
We are beginning our second panel for today.
I would like to welcome Mr. James Casey from the Canadian Federation of Students, appearing in person. We have Larissa Bezo from the Canadian Bureau of International Education joining us virtually. We are also joined by Janet Morrison and Rajan Sandhu from Sheridan College.
Welcome to all the witnesses.
We will begin with five minutes of opening remarks from each witness.
We will begin with Ms. Larissa Bezo from the Canadian Bureau of International Education for five minutes.
Please begin.
Larissa Bezo President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Bureau for International Education
Thank you.
On behalf of the Canadian Bureau for International Education, I am grateful for the opportunity to share with the standing committee a few observations regarding the unsettling situation that has significantly impacted a number of international students in Canada.
As the national association focused on advancing international education for Canada, the focus of CBIE's interventions will be on section (e) of Standing Order 108(2) and how to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future.
CBIE is not indifferent to the eventual disposition of these cases. We support fair, balanced and compassionate treatment for those who were duped by ghost immigration consultants. It is important for me to recognize at the outset, however, that CBIE is neither mandated nor equipped to take a position on individual cases, as our organization simply does not operate on so granular a level.
I have four brief points to make before taking questions.
First, Canada has a duty to do right by international students and live up to the commitments we have made to them. The international education sector is a globally competitive one, and Canada is vying with other countries for market share and for the best talent. If Canada fails to uphold its end of the bargain with international students and if we do not provide a first-rate educational experience, our global reputation as a study destination will be diminished and could have a deleterious impact on inbound international student flows to Canada in the future.
That is why CBIE has long advocated for a whole-of-government and sector-wide strategy to ensure that Canada is delivering the true value of what is marketed to students under the EduCanada brand. To give international students a positive and successful study experience, Canada needs to support them well from the time they apply to study with a Canadian institution through to post graduation and transition to work.
We've seen a rise of intermediary organizations offering counsel to prospective international students, and we need to ensure that these organizations and other independent agents are helping to advance the goals of the Canadian education sector in a responsible and ethical manner.
Second, EduCanada, Canada's global international education brand, should reflect Canada's commitment to both academic excellence and an ethical approach to how we treat international students. CBIE is already leading the way by working closely with our education institutions to give concrete expression to long-standing commitments to promoting ethical international educational practices and supporting rigour and professionalism across Canada's international education sector.
We're presently updating a new code of ethical practice for international education in Canada that will not only require educational institutions to commit to the values of quality, equity, inclusion and partnership but also provide them with ethical guidelines to follow against which they can assess performance.
We're also actively exploring options to develop an enhanced code of ethical practice that would apply specifically to the use of education consultants. To inform these objectives and to support our stakeholders, CBIE hosts round tables; we administer a survey of international students on a regular basis, and we develop and deliver training and professional certification programs for international education professionals, including training for registered international student immigration advisers, RISIAs.
As a complement to these efforts, we're exploring with CMIC how to more clearly articulate the requirement for designated learning institutions under the EduCanada brand, to demonstrate their commitment to and capacity for developing values-driven international education programming.
Third, CBIE is actively mobilizing its resources to generate and share insights on successful educational experiences for international students. There are numerous and long-standing gaps that exist about what we know and don't know about international education in Canada, including data on the longer-term benefits for Canada of inbound student mobility, but also how international students are faring at each stage of the international education continuum, from recruitment to arrival to Canada, from study experiences to transition to work.
One key aspect is that of paying particular attention to the interactions between prospective international students to Canada and education consultants. We'll be tackling that element within our next international student survey this fall, to tease out specifically how international students can engage with those support providers in making decisions and in submitting their study permit requests.
Lastly, on a practical level, CBIE is partnering with the provincial governments and regional international education associations to train trusted agents to build the capacity to provide quality support to prospective students considering Canada as a learning destination.
From our perspective, it's critical that international students to Canada who are seeking information on legal pathways to study in Canada obtain counsel from those who are not only qualified but also capable of providing immigration advice.
Thank you for the opportunity to share with the standing committee.
I look forward to your questions.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid
Thank you, Ms. Bezo.
We will now proceed to Mr. James Casey.
Mr. James Casey, you will have five minutes. Please begin.