Evidence of meeting #28 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was immigrants.
A video is available from Parliament.
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
To your knowledge, is there any mobility among asylum seekers?
Professor, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration, Toronto Metropolitan University, As an Individual
Are you referring to voluntary mobility?
Professor, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration, Toronto Metropolitan University, As an Individual
I think there's voluntary mobility towards Toronto and, generally speaking, towards major cities, for the reasons my colleagues mentioned earlier, notably networks such as family, friends and fellow villagers. There is also, as we heard the previous group of witnesses discuss, the whole issue of reception centres for asylum seekers.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dzerowicz
Thank you, Professor.
Thank you, Mr. Deschênes.
This completes our first round of questions. We'll now go to our second round of questions.
We have Mr. Redekopp.
Conservative
Brad Redekopp Conservative Saskatoon West, SK
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I know that we talked about a motion. I want to move it now and get it out of the way.
You've all seen the motion to do with Bill C-3 and the fact that we didn't quite get it right for the reporting information that we wanted from the department. The new motion would fix that. I think we've all seen that.
I won't read the old motion; we know what that one is. I'll briefly read the motion as it is. I move:
That the committee having adopted the following motion on March 25, 2026
—and I'm not going to read that part of the motion—
and that the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has provided a written response back to the committee explaining that the wording of the motion is too narrow to capture all citizenship applications made under the provisions under C-3;
the committee request that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada provide the committee, on a quarterly basis, with a written report, in both official languages, covering the preceding quarter, of all relevant data (including what was captured by the motion adopted on March 25, 2026) related to citizenship applications and all new citizenships granted as a result of the provisions in Bill C-3 as categorized by the terms of the original motion; and that the first such report, provided to the committee by no later than July 15, 2026, shall include all applicable data since Bill C-3 came into force.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dzerowicz
Are there any questions? Is there any debate? No.
Does everybody support it?
(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Thank you so much. You now have three and a half minutes left.
Conservative
Vincent Ho Conservative Richmond Hill South, ON
We have three and a half minutes. We'll make it quick, then.
My questions are for Professor Triandafyllidou.
Have you ever advised on government policy or contributed to government policy before? Has your expertise ever been consulted or your research ever been referenced in any capacity?
Professor, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration, Toronto Metropolitan University, As an Individual
Conservative
Vincent Ho Conservative Richmond Hill South, ON
You're listed as an expert panel member for the Century Initiative. Is that correct?
Professor, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration, Toronto Metropolitan University, As an Individual
Conservative
Vincent Ho Conservative Richmond Hill South, ON
Can you explain to this committee a bit more about what the Century Initiative is and what it advocates for?
Professor, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration, Toronto Metropolitan University, As an Individual
Okay.
I have to tell you that I arrived in Canada in 2019 to take up the excellence chair after a highly competitive selection process of world-class scholars in migration. I discovered the Century Initiative. Later, as a function of my role during the pandemic, I was asked to join what is called the national reference panel. The Century Initiative convenes us once a year for two hours to ask for our opinion on several initiatives that it's undertaking.
This is my level of commitment and involvement.
Conservative
Vincent Ho Conservative Richmond Hill South, ON
The Century Initiative has publicly supported a goal of growing Canada's population to 100 million by 2100 through significant and sustained increases to Canada's population growth rate. Is that correct?
Professor, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration, Toronto Metropolitan University, As an Individual
Conservative
Professor, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration, Toronto Metropolitan University, As an Individual
I don't support a specific number. I support the population policy that includes immigration but also employment, re-skilling, upskilling and families and households, particularly women and other equity-seeking groups.
Conservative
Vincent Ho Conservative Richmond Hill South, ON
In your view, is this target a desirable, realistic, necessary—
Professor, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration, Toronto Metropolitan University, As an Individual
No. It's a slogan. I think it's a slogan, and it's not desirable as such.
Conservative
Vincent Ho Conservative Richmond Hill South, ON
It doesn't sound like a slogan. It's listed as an objective.
Have you ever considered whether Canada has the housing infrastructure and labour market capacity to sustain this level of growth?
Professor, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration, Toronto Metropolitan University, As an Individual
I'm more of an expert on employment rather than housing. I have personal opinions as an informed citizen about housing, but I'll speak about employment.
With regard to employment, the labour market is not a set number of positions. We know that immigration in Canada has created more positions than it has filled. We know that immigration is a driver of our innovation and of our resilience in the face of a fast-aging society with an exponential need for care workers, so in this sense—
Professor, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration, Toronto Metropolitan University, As an Individual
As I said before, I deliberately chose to focus my comments on talent and skills utilization.
Conservative
Vincent Ho Conservative Richmond Hill South, ON
Exactly. That's where I want to go. You have talked about, in this testimony today, the underemployment of skilled immigrants. Why are you suggesting expanding those intake levels to 100 million if there are already issues with integrating and utilizing the full range of skills immigrants are bringing?