Citizenship and Immigration Committee on June 8th, 2026

[Alexis Graham]

We look at a variety of different inputs, of course, when making decisions.

Let me also remind committee members of the process. It is the department that brings different information sources and meets with a variety of different types of stakeholders and lobbyists. There are people who fall within that formal definition of “lobbyist”, but they, by far, are not the most substantial number of people we meet with.

We have advisory bodies, like the council of newcomers. We talk to employers directly. We talk to employees directly. There is a variety of different engagements we have. We talk to provinces and territories, communities, all of these types of organizations and actors within the system. We also look at research, and we have research done for us on specific questions to see what the right policy approach is. Then we compile advice. Often, we provide a series of options for the minister to consider. Then it is the minister who makes the final decision on any particular issue.

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

I appreciate how you have so many different inputs before creating any policy. Therefore, the suggestion that lobbyists alone are directing the policy of immigration is really unfounded.

We heard some feedback in this committee about whether you are listening to members. When we are having our committee sessions, are department officials looking at what we are doing here each and every meeting?

[Alexis Graham]

The answer is yes. We are very happy that they're televised, to be able to track the information. We have people who come to these sessions on a regular basis to observe and provide reports about the nature of the discussions and the nature of the witnesses, the people who are here. We definitely pay close attention to what you're doing.

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

Each and every member would be well heard when they're asking questions.

[Alexis Graham]

I would like to think yes.

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

I want to focus on the economic mobility pathways pilot in the minute and a half that's left. What are the lessons you have learned and what are the main takeaways from the EMPP program during its time? What is your intent for this program into the future?

[Carol McQueen]

I think it's an amazing program because it has proved that refugees around the world have capacities, work experience and abilities that can enable them to qualify for some of our economic programs, so it gives them another pathway to be able to potentially come to Canada. It was a pilot, so we're studying how it has worked. We see very much that having the NGOs that helped with the job matching was a very critical component of the program. We were also very pleased to see that we could in fact attract high-quality immigrants in some of the health sectors and nurses and things like that, where we were able to fill certain labour market gaps, most notably in some more remote areas in the health sector.

So far it's been a success. However, it's a fairly labour-intensive program, so we're still studying the results of it.

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

Does it help fulfill international obligations towards refugees?

[Carol McQueen]

Yes, certainly, in part because, as you probably know, the actual spaces for refugees around the world are in quite serious decline. Canada is a world leader in terms of the number of refugees it takes in, but finding alternative pathways for skilled refugees gives some hope of opportunities where they can qualify for other types of legal migration pathways.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

Thank you, Mr. Zuberi.

Thank you, Ms. McQueen.

Because we have limited time left, I'll be giving three and a half minutes to the Conservatives and three and a half minutes to the Liberals.

Mr. Redekopp, your three and a half minutes start now.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Thank you.

Ms. Graham, we've been speaking a lot about attracting foreigners to come to Canada to study different things. Has the department ever conducted a comparative cost-benefit analysis of investing in equivalent resources? We have entire departments advertising programs and whatever. It's the difference between investing equivalent resources into Canadian skills training and getting Canadian students into university, rather than going to the international markets.

[Alexis Graham]

In terms of workforce development investments, that's more of an ESDC lead. Actually, it's entirely ESDC-led.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Just to be clear, has your department done any cost-benefit analysis on attracting Canadian students rather than going internationally?

[Alexis Graham]

I do not know the answer to that question.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

All right.

Given that the lobbying registry showed you've taken a significant number of meetings with businesses and organizations that want more foreign student permits, how can you assure this committee that no policy decisions on exemptions were influenced by the volume of university meetings versus those with worker representation?

[Alexis Graham]

We engage with so many different stakeholders. What you see on the lobbying registry is a snapshot from that particular group of individuals, that particular cohort. I would just note that universities are obviously a key player in this ecosystem. They're important actors. I understand your point around financial gain and the importance of international students for the survival of some of their organizations, but they do provide essential education to Canadians and to international students in support of filling those labour market gaps.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Thank you.

On this exemption that we've been speaking about, what measurable labour market outcomes will IRCC track to evaluate whether the graduate exemption was the right choice?

[Alexis Graham]

In terms of measurement, we would look at what labour market fields those graduates enter into. For example, if one of those individuals is going into a health care field, from our perspective we would consider that a success, because that is a field where there is a long-term labour market shortage in Canada.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Is it something that the department monitors on a regular basis, then?

[Alexis Graham]

We are starting to come up with those frameworks in terms of what those measurable outcomes are, and those are things that are evergreen. We look at measurement frameworks, and we revise them on a regular basis. Some of them are part of our departmental reporting frameworks and our program information profiles. Other parts of that end up being reported on websites.

We are very interested in measuring the outcomes and do look at those on a regular basis to see how we really are able to tell that story to Canadians and to make sure that we are trying to achieve those objectives.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

I would like to circle back because you said in my previous round that you could give us some undertakings. Just to clarify it from a time perspective, it would be nice if we could have those in four weeks or something like that. Does that seem reasonable to you?

[Alexis Graham]

I believe that seems reasonable, yes.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

How much time do I have left?

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

You have two seconds. Thank you, Mr. Redekopp.

Thank you, Ms. Graham.

Next, we have three and a half minutes for Mr. Jeneroux.

Mr. Jeneroux, your time starts now.

[Matt Jeneroux, Liberal, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I have two quick questions. I want to talk to a bit about the global talent stream when it comes to the recently announced AI strategy. Before getting to that, I'm hoping that you can give a bit of an update on the efforts to attract the H-1B visa holders from the U.S., who might be looking at Canada as an attractive opportunity at this moment.