Evidence of meeting #36 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 refugees.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dzerowicz
Thank you, Mr. Miranda.
Thank you, Mr. Ho.
I was wrong. We have Mr. Fragiskatos for two and a half minutes.
You have two and a half minutes, please.
Liberal
Peter Fragiskatos Liberal London Centre, ON
Thank you, Chair.
Thank you to the witnesses.
Mr. Miranda, I'm not just saying this because you're a Western graduate. I think you've handled yourself very well today. Unfortunately, you've been put in a position a few times where it's difficult for you to respond. You've been put in an awkward position in some ways, with all due respect to my colleagues. However, I'll leave that aside.
Are you working now?
Liberal
Peter Fragiskatos Liberal London Centre, ON
I understand that, but at least with the time you've devoted to your studies—and with a lot of talent, I'm sure—I'm glad to hear that you are employed. I wish we could talk more. Maybe we could talk off-line, but I have limited time.
I'm going to move over to Mr. Casasola. It's actually the same question for Ms. Elgersma and Mr. Mason.
There's a bit of subtext to some of the arguments that have been presented here today. It's subtext we should do away with, and we should be very direct and ask.... I'll ask the direct question: Are refugees responsible for stopping Canadians from getting jobs?
Mr. Casasola, go ahead.
Senior Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Officer, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
To be clear, refugees are permanent residents. Some are citizens. Canada has welcomed refugees as part of its history. It's part of Canada's DNA.
I don't know if any sort of correlation can be made between the experience of refugees finding employment...versus other sectors of the economy. We know they work hard, like everybody else. They contribute to Canada and they welcome citizenship.
Liberal
Peter Fragiskatos Liberal London Centre, ON
Thank you very much, sir. I have maybe 45 seconds left, but the point about contribution is an important one.
Go ahead, Mr. Mason and Ms. Elgersma, if there's an opportunity.
Chief Executive Officer, World University Service of Canada
I'll just say this is not an either-or situation; it's a yes-and situation.
Of course, we need to do both. We need to ensure that young Canadians have the opportunities they need. There are still going to be critical labour shortages in this country. We're not trying to manufacture these. These are driven by employers and the provinces, which know where their labour needs are. Those need to be filled.
We need to do both. We're not in opposition here; we're in agreement.
Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Officer, Durable Solutions, Labour Mobility, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
I would just add that our approach to this topic of global talent and attracting it is about how refugees can be included in that and participate on a level playing field with immigrants from other places, in essence.
Liberal
Peter Fragiskatos Liberal London Centre, ON
I think I have 20 seconds.
This does not have to be to the detriment of Canada. Canada can be a welcoming place. It always has been. I should be careful about that. We have seen real advances made in decades past, and we welcome people from all across the world.
There are challenges, certainly, in the Canadian economy, but as to the either-or, as you put it, Mr. Mason, it would be misplaced if we focused the conversation within that framework. Is that accurate?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dzerowicz
I'm sorry, Mr. Fragiskatos. You're way over.
Thank you, Mr. Mason.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dzerowicz
Thank you, Mr. Fragiskatos.
Feel free to send in the answer to that. Anything formal can be sent in by letter and will be considered by this committee.
With that, I want to say a huge thank you to the excellent witnesses of the second panel. I also want to thank my colleagues for their excellent questions.
That ends this meeting today. Thank you.
