Citizenship and Immigration Committee on March 23rd, 2026

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

Yes. Thank you.

As I was saying, budget 2024 had provided $1.1 billion to extend IHAP for three years, starting in 2024-25, with a renewed focus to help partners move away from emergency measures, such as hotels, and develop more sustainable and cost-effective housing solutions for asylum claimants across Canada.

The program funding flowed solely on a cost-shared reimbursement basis in response to costs incurred by jurisdictions. As of 2025, IHAP recipients, including Toronto, were to employ more sustainable and cost-effective housing solutions for asylum claimants.

I talked about a specific one that I am familiar with. In Peel, they have a reception centre and transitional housing. That was in line with our updated conditions.

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

Thank you, Minister.

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

We will continue to do our best. I think the good news is that the asylum numbers are going down. We know that costs are going to be high when you have high volumes, but with the introductions we have made and with the Bill C-12 measures that will be coming, we are continuing to see asylum numbers going down. Therefore, those numbers should be going down.

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

Thank you, Minister.

I also note the funding for the digital platform modernization program. Much of the casework in our offices in the constituencies is from people requesting updates. Those should be available to them online. Could you please speak about this modernization project and how the government is working to improve customer service for Canadians and others accessing the immigration system?

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

You have one minute, Minister.

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

That's an excellent question.

As we all know, IRCC operates a vast service delivery network, and it engages with millions of clients across Canada and around the globe. To deliver modern client-centric services that are more efficient and transparent, we are looking at a strong, digitally enabled immigration system because it's critical.

There are new digital technologies that will transform IRCC services by simplifying the online application process. People have just seen how the passport one has started. It will enhance client access to real-time application status by increasing efficiency. It will also strengthen our integrity and border protections.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

Thank you so much, Minister.

Thank you, Ms. Zahid.

We only have a couple of minutes left, so I'll give one minute to the Conservatives and one minute to the Liberals.

Mr. Ho, you have one minute.

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

Minister, if someone were to say that they don't think international students are taking jobs away from Canadians, given the labour shortages that are happening today, would you agree with that statement?

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

It's funny. I just came from Sudbury, and I met with many different groups.

International students are here, first and foremost, to study. Second, they are allowed to work 24 hours in the week. They are filling some labour gaps that some of the rural and other communities desperately need. We recognize the importance of international students, and we thank them for that.

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

The former immigration minister, Marc Miller, said, “I don't think [international] students are taking jobs away from other people, given the labour shortages that are happening [today]”. Do you agree with that statement? Is he wrong?

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

I'm sorry. Could you say that again?

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

He said, “I don't think [international] students are taking jobs away from other people, given the labour shortages that are happening [today]”. Is he wrong to say that?

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

I'm not sure who said that.

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

It was Marc Miller, the former Liberal immigration minister.

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

As I said, international students are here to get a good education from our post-secondary institutions. That's why we've strengthened the master's and Ph.D. levels.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

Thank you, Mr. Ho.

We have one minute for Mr. Zuberi.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I'd like to ask you about the relationship between you, as minister, and the IRB, because a line of questioning has created confusion about that relationship.

Do you actually direct the IRB, precisely? You talked a bit about its independence.

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

As a lawyer, I practised law for 22 years before going into politics. Quite frankly, I did some administrative law, but I also sat as an adjudicator and an arbitrator on some smaller, provincial kind of...whatever.

There's a line to be drawn here. I respect the role of that independent quasi-judicial body, as I believe Canadians do. It has a role to play. It is doing the best it can. We, as a government and as a ministry, also have a role to play. Parliamentarians have a role to play.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

Thank you, Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Zuberi.

I want to thank the minister for her time today and for being patient in answering all of our questions.

I would like to now suspend for a few minutes so the minister can leave, and then we can continue with the officials.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

Welcome back.

We are going to continue with the rounds of questions that we began in the first hour. We're now starting our third round, which is five minutes.

We'll begin with Mr. Ho for five minutes.

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

My questions are primarily to do with international students, so Ms. May, from the international students branch, might want to pitch in.

After a decade of costly Liberal policies, Canadians are dealing with a homegrown cost of living crisis. We're seeing rising unemployment. Today, the unemployment rate for students is at 18%, and millions of Canadians are relying on food banks just to survive.

Earlier this month, in March, the Liberal government announced millions of dollars for scholarships for hundreds of students from India to study in Canada, along with hundreds of researcher positions. At a time of rising deficits and rising costs, why can this government find room to announce support for non-Canadian students but not to properly support Canadian students?

[Scott Harris, Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Citizenship and Immigration]

I will turn to Ms. May if there's additional detail there.

I believe the program you're speaking to is a program to recruit graduate students and those in higher-level education in the pursuit of bringing talent to Canada, with an interest in ensuring that we have the skills to build the future and that we remain competitive in attracting top talent to Canada.

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

Do we not have enough top talent here in Canada?

[Scott Harris]

We want to build on that, obviously, to ensure the best opportunities for the future.

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

Did your department provide advice on this policy at all?