Citizenship and Immigration Committee on Feb. 7th, 2024

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

It's a yes or no question.

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

The Liberal government can still form the government, but—

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

When you were in the opposition, were you armchair quarterbacks?

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

—the Bloc Québécois doesn't have that opportunity, unless you have members across Canada. The last time we checked, you didn't.

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

Minister Miller, in your opinion, what purpose does the opposition serve?

Some regimes around the world don't have any opposition parties. Would you prefer to live in a regime without opposition parties?

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

No.

I love your comments, Mr. Brunelle‑Duceppe. I learn things from them.

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

Do you think that the opposition serves a purpose?

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

I didn't hear the question.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Honourable member Brunelle-Duceppe, if you can go through the chair, I would really appreciate it because—

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

Mr. Chair—

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

—it's very hard on the interpreters. Thank you.

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

Thank you.

Sorry, everyone.

Mr. Chair, I want to know whether the minister thinks that the opposition parties play a role in Canada, or whether they're just armchair quarterbacks.

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

The opposition parties play a key role, but they must take it on. That said, I think that we're getting away from the topic of the committee meeting.

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

At some point, you have to set the record straight—

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Wait one second, Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe, because the interpretation is not working.

Could we just test the English channel again?

Go ahead, please.

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

I hope that you'll add two minutes to my time, Mr. Chair.

Minister Miller, I was saying that you need to set the record straight. Treating an opposition member like an armchair quarterback shows spite and a lack of respect for the democratic system of the great and beautiful country that you call Canada.

Would you say that you have a good relationship with Minister Fréchette? You keep saying that you have a good relationship and good communication with the Quebec government. However, yesterday, Minister Fréchette was so exasperated that she spoke about considering a referendum to repatriate all powers to Quebec. Is this your idea of a good relationship with the Quebec government?

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

She can say what she wants, of course. Personally, I think that we have a good relationship. We talk to each other and text. We don't necessarily agree on everything, but I don't think Quebeckers expect us to. I wasn't elected to the National Assembly and she wasn't elected to the House of Commons. We have different responsibilities. In my opinion, we take them on.

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

Thank you, Minister Miller.

In January 2024, the media reported that the Mexican ministry of foreign affairs claimed to have reached an agreement with Canada to implement joint measures to deal with the current flow of migrants. To date, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, or IRCC, has denied that any such measures have been implemented.

Should we believe Mexico's foreign affairs minister or IRCC? I'm not sure whom to listen to.

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

It may be a matter of interpretation.

The Prime Minister told the Mexican president in person that he wanted to see a change. As far as I know, the president said that he would implement measures. Personally, I think that we should give him the benefit of the doubt, considering the significance of this diplomatic relationship. So far, we haven't seen any impact other than a seasonal variation. However, some evidence is needed in the short term.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Honourable member, go ahead, please. Your time is almost up, but I'll give you one question.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Minister Miller, will you grant the Quebec government's request to reinstate visa requirements for Mexicans?

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

That remains to be seen.

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

Thank you, Minister Miller.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Thank you. Now we will go to Ms. Kwan.

Madam Kwan, you have six minutes. Go ahead, please.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Thank you to the minister and officials for coming before the committee.

The government, of course, with the safe third country agreement, secretly signed an agreement with the United States and then later on announced it. Part of that announcement came with a commitment to accept 15,000 migrants from Central America and South America, who would come in through regular channels in 2023 and 2024.

Can the minister advise us how many have actually come through to date as part of that commitment?