Citizenship and Immigration Committee on Oct. 30th, 2025

[Jason Hollmann]

People whose applications are deemed inadmissible may be referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, or IRB, and will be subject to a removal process, but there will be a pre-removal risk assessment. That's where we'll assess the risks and determine whether they need protection—

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Beauharnois—Salaberry—Soulanges—Huntingdon, QC]

I'm sorry to interrupt, but I want to talk about the process, because I'm struck by the unreasonable processing times. We're talking about human beings who arrive in Canada and apply for asylum 14 days later. If you tell them that their application is inadmissible, but they request a pre-removal risk assessment, how much time can they remain without legal status and—

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

Thank you, Mrs. DeBellefeuille.

I'm very sorry, but I'll have to end this round.

We have two minutes left. I'm going to give one minute to Mr. Davies and one minute to Mr. Zuberi. Then we'll go into committee business.

You have one minute, please.

[Fred Davies, Conservative, Niagara South, ON]

Quickly, Minister, do you use AI in any application for any processes in the immigration department?

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

No, not to process applications. That's a question that has come to me before, and I asked the department. The answer is no, not to process applications. They're done by human beings.

[Fred Davies, Conservative, Niagara South, ON]

My understanding is that there is a software package that is used by IRCC to screen visitors who want to come to Canada, and occasionally it comes up with problems, like somebody who says that they're going to go canoeing in northern Ontario in January.

Are you saying that this software is not in use at IRCC or the CBSA?

[Tara Lang]

No, what we use is a triage model. It's an Excel spreadsheet; it's not an automated or AI software.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

Thank you very much, Mr. Davies.

Thank you, Ms. Lang.

You have one minute, Mr. Zuberi.

[Sameer Zuberi, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

Thanks to everybody for being here again.

I want to ask, in this short period of time, about the data-sharing elements of the legislation.

I'm curious as to why naturalized citizens can have their data shared. Also, with regard to the sharing that happens for permanent residents, temporary residents—their personal information—is it very limited in scope? Will it be very limited in scope, or will it be the wholesale information shared to different partners, including provincial governments?

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Because of privacy, obviously, we take that quite seriously—protecting the personal information of applicants. As I said before, all information-sharing agreements, whether within the federal government or with provincial or territorial governments, would be in writing, and they would include strong safeguards to protect people's privacy and charter rights.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

Thank you so much, Minister.

Thank you so much, Mr. Zuberi.

I want to thank all the officials, and especially you, Minister. Thank you. This was a marathon session. I really appreciate your time.

We have two very quick things that we need to do for committee business. We don't need to go in camera.

Committee members, the clerk has distributed a study budget for your approval. It's $32,000 for the study of the subject matter of Bill C-12. Do I have a motion for this budget?

Thank you, Ms. Rempel Garner.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

Next, we need a deadline for the briefs regarding Bill C-12. The clerk and analysts are suggesting Monday, November 10, at 9 a.m., with a maximum length of 1,000 words. We need enough time to get them translated and distributed to members of the committee before Thursday, November 20.

Can I get a motion for that?

Thank you, Ms. Rempel Garner.

(Motion agreed to)

Lastly, UNHCR will be visiting. They will be here on Tuesday, November 18. I'd like to propose an informal meeting with them. It will be a joint meeting with the foreign affairs committee between nine o'clock and 9:45. If it's okay with everyone, I'd like to ask the clerk to make the necessary arrangements to offer hospitality between nine o'clock and 9:45 to UNHCR and for us to cover the costs.

I want to see whether I can get a motion to cover the costs for that. It will probably be coffee and muffins.

Thank you, Mr. Zuberi.

(Motion agreed to)

Thank you very much.

Madame DeBellefeuille.

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Beauharnois—Salaberry—Soulanges—Huntingdon, QC]

I have a quick question.

Am I correct in understanding that the committee's report on Bill C‑12 will be sent to the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security on November 20?

As I sit on the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security, I was wondering when we would receive the report.

Have you decided on November 20?

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

Thank you for the question.

What we were discussing a couple of minutes ago was the external briefs that will come to this committee regarding the immigration section of Bill C-12. The deadline for that is Monday, November 10, at 9 a.m., because we need to be able to translate them. There's a length limit of 1,000 words. We need time to translate them and distribute them to the committee by Thursday, November 20, which is the last day we're considering it.

That allows me to more fully answer the second part of your question. This committee is only sending a list of recommendations based on the four days of testimony that we will hear here. We're sending the list to the public safety committee, and they will look at our recommendations and take them into consideration when they're making the final report and doing clause-by-clause consideration.

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Beauharnois—Salaberry—Soulanges—Huntingdon, QC]

When will we be getting those recommendations, Madam Chair?

In the motion that we moved as part of our study of Bill C‑12, November 20 would be the last day to hear witnesses, and then we would proceed to clause-by-clause consideration.

Will your recommendations be tabled before November 20? That was my question.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

No. It will arrive at the end of our session on November 20. That's our last day. It will be a list of recommendations.

Thank you.

We are at the end of our meeting. Our next meeting will be on Thursday, November 6.

I declare the meeting adjourned.