Citizenship and Immigration Committee on May 4th, 2026

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

So you're confident that none of them are.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

Thank you, Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Ho. That is time.

Next, we have five minutes for Mr. Jeneroux.

[Matt Jeneroux, Liberal, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister, for being here.

It's not that I don't trust you, Madam Chair, but I'm going to put on my own timer.

Minister, I'm new to the committee here. I've been trying to catch up on some of the numbers you've given, including the 153,000 non-compliance cases raised in the Auditor General report. Of those, 78% have been cleared and 22% have left the country.

I think there were some valid questions raised on the other side about things like fraud. I'm hoping that you or perhaps Mr. Gallivan can share what's been done to address some of that fraud. I don't think I necessarily heard an answer to that.

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

We have submitted a detailed management action plan. It's a public action plan for between now and the end of 2026. A number of steps will be done to better monitor expiring permits, including reviewing all cases that are presented in the report to create alerts on the files where applicable.

The work with enforcement partners to review and improve internal processes is not only ongoing, but it has been strengthened. There have already been a number of meetings that are happening to ensure that's done. By the way, that's not just for student applications. That is for any applications that we have.

We're providing CBSA annually with a list of individuals with expired permits who have not applied for or received an extension or applied for or transitioned to permanent residency. Obviously, if you've transitioned to permanent residency, then you're further looked at again, or you have a valid immigration status.

We're also updating our guidance on misrepresentation, in terms of anybody who has provided any documents that are fraudulent. We're optimizing our tools and the compliance processes. Again, I talked about misrepresentation. Where fraud is being detected through letters of acceptance verification, we are expanding our functions to have better collaboration with CBSA and with the institutions.

Again, we will continue to work with the provinces and territories when we're talking about admissions of students, because they are the ones who, with the educational institutions, are sort of determining where to go. In terms of broadening the list of countries, again, IRCC does not control that; that is something that the colleges, universities and post-secondary institutions are doing.

Again, we will be conducting compliance investigations on study permit extension applications that are identified as high-risk. With an initial study permit application process, we will initially do all of those that were under the student direct stream. There are a number of items that are being done to ensure that there's better management, better monitoring and better control of the system.

I will come back to the question of my friend on my right, which was why some of these things were not done before, such as an entry/exit system. You know, Canada was established in 1867, and certainly, for generations, immigrants have been coming to Canada to build this country. I think a lot of us around the table are immigrants, or the sons and daughters of immigrants, or the grandchildren of immigrants. The country was built by immigrants, built for Canadians. We want to ensure that we keep it that way.

The system has grown to an extent in the last few years after COVID. It just got to a point where many people were coming because the system allowed them to come because they fit the criteria. There were no temporary resident caps, whether for students or for work permits. That was instituted in 2024. That is why Canadians and the country are seeing a decline in the number of workers who are coming on temporary status, as well as students. It is a shock to the system, to a lot of them. We are revamping. In fact, there have been a lot of things that have been done.

Thank you so much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

Thank you, Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Jeneroux.

Mr. Deschênes, you have the floor for two and a half minutes.

[Alexis Deschênes, Bloc, Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Ms. Diab, let us discuss the 800 study permits which, according to the Auditor General, were granted on the basis of information that was either fraudulent or inaccurate. You mentioned earlier that a note will be added to their files.

Am I to understand that you have successfully identified these 800 individuals?

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

Yes. My deputy minister confirms that we have identified these individuals.

[Alexis Deschênes, Bloc, Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC]

A note has therefore been added to the file of each of these individuals.

The Auditor General tells us that most of these 800 people subsequently obtained other immigration permits.

So, what happens to these people, apart from a note being added to their file? Are there any sanctions?

[Ted Gallivan]

That is the important question.

There will be an investigation into these cases to determine whether we will revoke these individuals’ status in Canada or recommend its revocation. If their status is revoked, there will be a removal process for these individuals. For us, it is also a matter of learning from these scenarios to adjust our licensing process and better target this type of individual in the future.

So, our testimony is that, in 100% of cases, there will be an investigation to determine whether we will revoke the licence or recommend its revocation, if we do not have the power to revoke it. If it is revoked, we will proceed with removal.

[Alexis Deschênes, Bloc, Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC]

How long do you expect it to take to complete the analysis of these 800 cases?

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

We want this to be done by the end of 2026.

[Ted Gallivan]

I would like to clarify that the aim is to launch all investigations by the end of 2026. If there is an individual who is difficult to locate, we understand that it could take longer. However, our commitment is to reach a decision in 2026 on all cases.

[Alexis Deschênes, Bloc, Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

Thank you, Mr. Deschênes.

Next, we have five minutes for Ms. Rempel Garner.

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

Thank you.

To recap some of your answers, of the 800 cases of fraud the Auditor General reported, you don't know where those people are right now.

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

We've identified the 800 individuals.

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

Could you tell us where they are?

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

I wouldn't have that information right here at the desk.

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

All right. You don't know whether or not they're still in the country.

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

The 800 cases are in Canada.

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

Okay. You haven't removed them from Canada.

To be clear, you don't have a functioning entry/exit tracking system yet. Is that correct?

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

The system is in development—

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

That's a no.

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

—but, as I said before, this is a function from 1867.

[Ted Gallivan]

Madam Chair, if you'll allow me, I think the entry regime is much more mature than the exit regime.