Citizenship and Immigration Committee on Dec. 4th, 2025

[Salma Zahid, Liberal, Scarborough Centre—Don Valley East, ON]

I have point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

First, let me say that she has not been not able to respond, Mr. Menegakis.

There's a point of order by Ms. Zahid.

[Salma Zahid, Liberal, Scarborough Centre—Don Valley East, ON]

As chair, it is your responsibility to make sure we have decorum.

I don't think this is a valid thing. My honourable colleague is questioning the minister, and you cannot intervene. It is your job to keep decorum.

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

On that point of order—

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

Thank you, Ms. Zahid.

Thank you, Mr. Menegakis.

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Is that a point of order for you?

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

This is not a point of order, Mr. Menegakis.

[Costas Menegakis, Conservative, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Okay.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

Your time is up in any case—

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

I'm just going to say to you that's why we introduced Bill C-2 and Bill C-12. It's because—

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

Minister Diab, it's over.

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

—the system needs to be improved. We need to have better tools, and that's exactly what we are doing.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

Minister Diab—

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

We're hoping that you will work with us to do that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

Minister Diab, the time is up.

We have five minutes with Ms. Zahid.

[Salma Zahid, Liberal, Scarborough Centre—Don Valley East, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

Thanks, Minister.

Minister, we know that Canada has introduced the special measures program to support Sudanese nationals affected by the conflict in Sudan. I represent many members of this community. They were in Ottawa to meet parliamentarians last week. They had meetings with many MPs here in Ottawa. They shared with me and many other MPs their concerns about delays in processing, the security issues and the challenges in family reunification.

Could you please outline what steps your department is taking to ensure these measures are implemented quickly, transparently and equitably so that families can be reunited safely and urgently?

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

Thank you very much.

I know how much you care about that, and I want you to know that Canadians, department staff and I are horrified by what's happening in Sudan.

Canada has been standing by since the onset of the crisis in 2023, and we'll continue to do so. We are prioritizing temporary and permanent residency applications from Sudanese nationals, and if you'll allow me, I'm just going to tell you what has been done since April 2023, when this started.

The Government of Canada responded swiftly to provide assisted departure operations and critical on-the-ground support for Canadian citizens and permanent residents who were there. They brought in 520 Canadians, permanent residents and family members at the time.

Second, IRCC began priority processing applications of those who were already in the temporary resident and permanent resident inventories. As a result of that, from April of that year, 1,730 people arrived in Canada. For those who are here, we've extended work permits and study permits until October 2026.

In 2024, IRCC launched what you've just described: the dedicated family-based permanent residence humanitarian pathways. For those who were residing in Sudan at the time of the conflict and have close family members here, the number was expanded in 2025 to 5,000 applications. As you know, that intake was reached. As of November 18, 2025, 2,300 people have arrived as part of the family-based PR pathways.

Canada also made a commitment to resettle a total of 4,000 Sudanese nationals as government-assisted refugees, as well as 700 under the private sponsorship of refugees. I can tell you that IRCC continues to prioritize the processing of Sudanese applications. That has never stopped and continues.

[Salma Zahid, Liberal, Scarborough Centre—Don Valley East, ON]

I hear every day from my constituents about losing their loved ones because of the conflict in Sudan, and it is very heartbreaking.

Many of my constituents have money in an account that they cannot access, because in order to qualify for that, they had to submit money in an account. They are still waiting for their loved ones to be reunited with them.

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

I share your concern. I've had many briefings with staff and people who are experts in the field. I have directed them, and they have continued to process applications as quickly as possible. I am told that, in 2026, we will see a large number coming who have already been approved.

[Salma Zahid, Liberal, Scarborough Centre—Don Valley East, ON]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

Thank you, Ms. Zahid.

Thank you, Minister Diab.

Next we'll go to Monsieur Brunelle-Duceppe.

Mr. Brunelle‑Duceppe, you have the floor for two and a half minutes.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Minister, I'd like to come back to your answer. It wasn't clear. According to some people, my question may not have been, so I'll try to make it as clear as possible.

Do you find it acceptable that former prime minister Jean Chrétien directed the immigration minister at the time, Sergio Marchi, to speed up the processing of citizenship applications so that more people could vote for “no” in 1995?

Do you find it acceptable that Mr. Marchi carried out Mr. Chrétien's order?

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

I think I've already answered that, but I—

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

No, you haven't.

I'm asking you again.

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

I can answer you again, and you can ask me the same question if you want. For my part, I'm focused entirely on the present.