Citizenship and Immigration Committee on Dec. 4th, 2025

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

Thank you, Minister.

Thank you, Ms. Rempel Garner. That is the time.

Now we move to Ms. Salma Zahid for five minutes.

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

Thank you, Chair.

Thanks to the Minister and all the officials who are here before the committee today.

Minister, I met with the representatives from Palestinian Students and Scholars at Risk. They highlighted the situation of more than 130 Palestinian graduate students who have secured admissions and full scholarships in high-priority fields like AI, public health and other research-based programs, yet they are facing prolonged delays in obtaining study permits and, in many cases, even accessing the biometrics.

These students have endured unimaginable conditions in Gaza. Will your department work with these students to help get them here to begin their studies?

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

I'm going to use some of my notes, just to make sure that, for the record, what I say is clear and factual, which is how I always work, as opposed to making things up along the way.

Let me start off with this. Canada remains deeply concerned about the situation in the Middle East and empathizes with those affected. IRCC has put in measures to provide a temporary haven for those who are directly affected by the conflict and who have Canadian citizen and permanent resident family members in Canada. In addition to applications processed through these temporary measures, Palestinians who left Gaza on or after October 7, 2023, have also been able to apply under IRCC's existing programs.

I can tell you some key facts, and then I'll answer your student question.

On January 9, 2024, IRCC introduced measures to provide a temporary safe haven for Palestinians directly affected by the crisis in Gaza who have Canadian citizen or permanent resident family members in Canada willing to support them. The intake closed, as we know, in March 2025, when the intake cap of 5,000 applications was reached. The processing of these applications is ongoing.

Movement out of Gaza, though, has been challenging due to factors outside of Canada's control. Canada does not, ultimately, decide who can exit Gaza—nor does IRCC, for that matter—so when special measures were announced, Canada established a process to advocate for movement through crossing into Egypt, where biometrics would be collected and applications finalized.

The closure of Rafah in May 2024 significantly reduced available options for people to exit Gaza. The Government of Canada is aware of reporting that the Rafah border crossing may reopen, so we continue to monitor that situation and will adapt the approach as required. Canada is closely following the developments related to the peace deal as well, and we will continue to monitor that.

In relation to the students you are referring to, we understand that some students, including those with acceptance letters from Canadian institutions, have been experiencing increased processing times for their study permit applications. Applying to a Canadian school does not guarantee entry to Canada, and all prospective international students must meet all requirements before a study permit is approved.

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

Minister, as to the program you mentioned about Palestinian extended family members, when it was announced in late 2023, people took it with great optimism, but unfortunately it has not been the success we had hoped for. Few have been able to make it out of Gaza, and I know many cases of people who have made it to Egypt but cannot get permission to proceed to Canada.

Could you share what your department is doing to address these issues?

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

I agree with you. We continue to work as hard as we can with Global Affairs and other partners, not just from Canada but from different countries as well—with Israel, Jordan and Egypt. This is not just a Canada question. If it were, a number of them would have been here by now.

We will continue to do everything we can to ensure that those who have been accepted—

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

Thank you, Minister Diab.

Thank you, Ms. Zahid.

I will now give the floor to Mr. Brunelle‑Duceppe for two and a half minutes.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Minister, do you acknowledge that Quebec and Montreal, in particular, receive a disproportionate number of asylum seekers relative to their demographic weight in Canada?

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

Yes, that's true for Quebec and Ontario.

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

In June 2024, the previous minister, Mr. Miller, put on a big show, and immigration ministers from various provinces were by his side. He said at the time that he had set up a committee to discuss the distribution of asylum seekers.

What happened to that committee?

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

When I was appointed minister, one of my briefings was on this. In September, I had a meeting with all the provincial and territorial immigration ministers, and we discussed this issue.

I can tell you that, for example, New Brunswick has taken in a lot of refugees. The New Brunswick minister said that our initiative was a good thing, because people have integrated well into New Brunswick.

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

Minister, you just told me that Quebec and Montreal, in particular, receive a disproportionate number of asylum seekers in Canada. I asked you what was happening with the committee that was meant to discuss the distribution of asylum seekers among the provinces, and you're telling me about New Brunswick.

I get the impression that nothing has changed since the members of that committee last met. Once again, Quebec and Ontario currently receive a disproportionate number of asylum seekers. That press conference took place in June 2024. It's now December 2025, and nothing has happened yet with the distribution of asylum seekers, even though that would solve a lot of problems.

How is it that you aren't taking action on this file, that is, on the distribution of asylum seekers based on the demographic weight of each territory that makes up the Canadian federation, Minister?

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

You have 15 seconds.

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

I will ask Mr. Gionet to answer your question.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

Answer quickly, please.

[Jean-Marc Gionet, Acting Assistant Deputy Minister, Protection and Family Programs Sector, Department of Citizenship and Immigration]

I'm sorry. I won't be able to answer the question in 15 seconds. However, we can provide you with additional information to round out the minister's answers.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

Thank you, Monsieur Brunelle-Duceppe. Thank you, Mr. Gionet.

Next we have Michelle Rempel Garner for five minutes.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

In December 2023, a non-citizen went to a hotel here in Canada to meet a 15-year-old for sex. He had agreed to pay for these services. He only received three months of house arrest and was allowed to go shopping for three hours every Sunday throughout these three months. His sentencing was lessened so as not to affect his immigration status.

Do you think the criminal inadmissibility component—subsection 36(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act—kept Canadians safe in this situation?

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

I know you know that sentencing decisions are made independently by the courts. Where the federal government, though, is responsible for the law is in removals. Under immigration law, a non-citizen convicted of a serious violent crime is subject to deportation.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

That's right, but I'll just stop you there for a second.

Since you've had trouble understanding questions today, you, as the immigration minister—surprise—are responsible for the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. That section is under your portfolio.

This guy was convicted of a serious crime. They used a loophole in subsection 36(1) to ensure that his sentence was reduced so that he could stay in Canada. Is that good or bad?

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

There is no federal law that requires judges to reduce a sentence because of immigration consequences. That is the truth.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

I'm asking about section 36. I'm just going to remind you that this is part of your portfolio. This is your department. Do you think this section is working?

I'll give you another example. A 25-year-old was on a study permit. He sexually assaulted an 18-year-old at a club in my city of Calgary. He was found guilty, and the judge reduced his sentence because of the provision in the bill you're responsible for.

The definition of “serious criminality” doesn't work. Do you think that's bad? Do you think that maybe we should change it so that people who are non-citizens and are convicted of things like sexual assault get auto-deported rather than just sticking around and maybe doing it again?

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

We have legislation in front of us that will ensure serious crimes get dealt with seriously, including with deportations.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Which one? Which legislation?

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

Even the judge in the case said that we are not—

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

No, go back. Tell me which law you're talking about.