Citizenship and Immigration Committee on Dec. 4th, 2025

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

This levels plan concentrates heavily on attracting individuals under the economic category, whether it's the federal economic mobility pathways under express entry or the provincial nominee program that the provinces and territories will choose in order to fit their own labour needs. The permanent residents admitted through the regional economic immigration pathways, whether it's the provincial nominee program, the Atlantic immigration program, the rural program or the francophone community immigration program.... That will be selected by these provinces in order to meet their labour and economic needs.

I can give you examples. I'm not sure, but in 2024, for non-permanent residents and PR residents, as an approximation, 23% were working in construction; 40% were working in professional, scientific and technical services; and 44% were working in the transportation and warehousing sector. That's just to give you an idea. It's to meet Canada's economic needs and grow our economy.

[Amandeep Sodhi, Liberal, Brampton Centre, ON]

Thank you, Minister.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

Thank you, Ms. Sodhi.

Thank you, Minister.

We are going to our next round of five-minute questions.

Before we start, I am just going to remind everyone, when asking their questions and giving their answers or comments, to please direct them through the chair.

We are beginning the third round with five minutes for Mr. Menegakis.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister and officials, for being here with us today.

Minister, I want to expand on this question of crime and how we treat criminals in this country. Should criminals receive more lenient sentences to protect their immigration status, in your opinion?

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

I don't believe they should, no.

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

My colleague referred to Rajbir Singh. That was a case very recently in Calgary, in 2024, where a judge considered immigration status when assessing the case. That's one example, but let's go to another one.

Aswin V. Sajeevan spied on a woman in a bathroom, and he made video recordings. He received a more lenient sentence to stay in the country. In fact, in that case, the judge decided to give him less than six months, instead of the mandatory six to 12 months, just so that it would not affect his immigration status.

Is it your position or the position of the Liberal government that we should give peepers and rapists a second chance to stay in Canada?

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

No, absolutely not. As I said, sentencing decisions are not made by a government. They are made by courts. No, a government does not support such a thing.

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

Minister, these are people you let into the country. Immigration let them into the country. The Liberal government allowed them into the country. These are not Canadians. These are people whose judgment decisions are being affected in the courts so that their immigration status is not affected. It really does speak to the weakness we have seen in the background checks done before people are let into this country.

Let me ask you this. Would you agree that we should prioritize justice for victims and safety for Canadians over immigration needs, over these criminals, peepers, rapists and so forth?

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

The safety of Canadians is always the priority.

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

Recently, we heard at this committee, as you very well know, from the CBSA. They're looking for 30,000 people in the country and can't find them. We heard from the president of the union of CBSA employees that staff are completely demoralized because they're not given the tools to do proper background checks.

Regarding your one-touch system—a first meeting with a person wanting to come to Canada where they take a biometric of the eye, fingerprints and so forth—once they have that initial meeting, they're given a questionnaire to take home. Then they have 45 days to complete it before they give it back.

Do you think it is proper to allow people into the country before the entire screening process has ascertained their criminality or whether they have the right to be in Canada? If they have a criminal record, they shouldn't be here and shouldn't have 45 days to complete the questionnaire.

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

I asked about this when I heard about this thing you call the one-touch system. I was told that it's not really a one-touch system, but—

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

No, Minister. I'm sorry. Let me just say that this was clarified here by your officials. It's not an app.

The one-touch system is in place in your department. It's the first connection with the person coming into the country. The “one-touch” for them is the first discussion with the individual. That takes a number of minutes, and then they're allowed into the country with a questionnaire to complete in 45 days.

Here's the problem we have: We have people who are in the country and shouldn't be here because they're criminals.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

You have one minute.

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

We have backlogs that are inundating all member of Parliament's offices, because we're dealing with real people here. The budget calls for a 15% cut to your department. Where are you with that? How many people are you letting go?

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

Let me go back to the one-touch system. The VP of intelligence and enforcement—

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

No. We finished that question.

How many people are you letting go?

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

—at the CBSA said that there are multiple layers of defence. He clarified that for somebody claiming asylum at a port of entry, 100% of them—

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

Minister, I just gave you examples.

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

—spent considerable time with border services.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

Mr. Menegakis, please let her answer the question.

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

They should not be here.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

Mr. Menegakis, please let her answer the question.

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

I am.

I just gave you examples of people who should not be here, Minister, and they're here.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

Mr. Menegakis, please let her answer the question.

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

Please, Madam Chair, I'm communicating with the minister. I want her to understand the question I'm asking. I'm getting a different answer.