Evidence of meeting #82 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 abuse.
A recording is available from Parliament.
6 p.m.
Liberal
Salma Zahid Liberal Scarborough Centre, ON
Based on your experience, what would be the average number of days it takes from when a complaint is filed to a resolution?
6 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
I don't think we want to make that kind of generalization, because they're so different. Some things could be resolved very quickly. Let's say that an employee has not gotten their overtime payment from their employer. That could be resolved within a matter of weeks, whereas, if there are abuse claims, that could take a few months to unravel. That's why there's a real discrepancy. The average wait time would obviously be pulled by the more in-depth investigations that could take a lot longer versus the kind of smaller infractions that can take days or weeks to resolve. That's why that scale is probably larger than the individual case would be.
6 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
We'll now go to Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe for two and a half minutes.
Then, Madam Kwan, you will be up for two and a half minutes.
6 p.m.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I want to reassure my Conservative friends: I don't think the study we're currently conducting is targeting anyone in particular. Nevertheless, we need to understand and consider the fact that abuses have occurred and that this may have happened because ill-intentioned people have taken advantage of this tool called the closed work permit.
The vast majority of employers registered with the temporary foreign worker program act in good faith, obviously, and they take care of their employees. If ill-intentioned people have taken advantage of this tool to commit abuses, as parliamentarians or lawmakers, we have no choice. We must try to change things. It's one of the things I discussed with the minister. He told us to talk to Minister Boissonnault. I can't believe the departments don't talk to each other.
Have you had discussions with various departments regarding the closed work permit?
6 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Yes, we have.
Definitely.
6 p.m.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Right now, it costs employers a fortune to conduct LMIAs. I can't speak for other provinces, but Quebec already has a workforce development agreement with the federal government.
In your opinion, why is it necessary for Quebec to produce an LMIA if it already has a workforce agreement?
6 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Temporary Foreign Worker Program, Department of Employment and Social Development
Thank you for the question.
In Quebec, the program is delivered jointly by Service Canada and the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration, or MIFI. We look at six criteria, and MIFI looks at three. Together, we—
6 p.m.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
How much does that extend the timeline and add to the cost, dealing with your department and the MIFI to obtain the Quebec acceptance certificate, for example? To me, that's duplication.
6 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Temporary Foreign Worker Program, Department of Employment and Social Development
There's no duplication, because we look at different criteria than the MIFI.
6 p.m.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
So why not just let the MIFI make the determination?
6 p.m.
Liberal
6 p.m.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Could the officials provide how many on-site inspections are announced and how many are unannounced?
6 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Yes, we committed during the previous question to provide that to the committee.
6 p.m.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Can we also get information on, for those that are announced, how many of them were found to have violations, and, for those that are not announced, how many of them have been found to have violations? Could we get those stats as well?
6 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Yes, we can provide that.
6 p.m.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Can we get that from both IRCC and from ESDC?
One issue for migrant workers is language. Many of them may not speak English as well as they might need to in order to file a complaint or even to be able to communicate with officials. Do both departments, the IRCC and the ESDC, offer interpretation when you talk with migrant workers?
6 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Temporary Foreign Worker Program, Department of Employment and Social Development
Yes. In fact, the tip line is accessible in over 200 languages.
6 p.m.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
When you speak with the individual in person, do you always make sure they know that interpretation is offered?
6 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Temporary Foreign Worker Program, Department of Employment and Social Development
We have options available to them, yes.
6:05 p.m.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Temporary Foreign Worker Program, Department of Employment and Social Development
Yes.