Citizenship and Immigration Committee on June 8th, 2026

[Alexis Graham]

Maybe I can describe a little bit about how the missions work.

We have a number of missions based in the United States. They are based in major cities. We have immigration officers there. We also have the trade commissioner service. We work in those markets to try to provide information to employers, to individuals and to industries that may have these H-1B visa holders, to let them know that if they're interested in coming to Canada, we have fast pathways for them to do that. The global skills strategy is the one that kind of comes to mind, but we also have complementary permanent resident pathways that would likely enable a lot of these people to compete for those permanent resident spots, given their experience and background, etc.

We work with that kind of group and that network of individuals in those missions to get that information out and continue to promote Canada as a destination of choice. Most of those visa holders would be in these occupations that can have that fast lane in both the temporary and permanent spaces.

[Matt Jeneroux, Liberal, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

For the global talent stream, it was reported just last week that the newly announced AI strategy could be helpful in the economic and industry development field of AI. I'm hoping that you could speak a little bit about that goal and the global talent stream.

[Alexis Graham]

Yes, that was part of the AI strategy, and that would be an expansion of the global talent stream. The global talent stream is a list that is administered by ESDC. On that list is a fast lane for certain occupations that are in high demand and that are able to contribute to those key industries and key government priorities. We will see what the occupations will be in terms of that expansion. Immigration is there to support from a work permit processing perspective. Then again, we will try to facilitate those who wish to stay if they meet the very competitive bar that we have through express entry.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

Thank you, Mr. Jeneroux, and thank you, Ms. Graham.

That wraps up our first hour of testimony for today's meeting.

I want to thank the witnesses for their time and for their excellent contributions.

I want to thank all my colleagues for their great questions. I think we put a lot of excellent testimony on the record for our study.

We're now going to suspend so our current witnesses can leave, and then we'll come back for our second round.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

Welcome back, everyone, to hour two of our immigration committee today.

I would like to make a few comments for the benefit of the new witnesses.

Please wait until I recognize you by name before speaking.

On Zoom, at the bottom of your screen, you can select the appropriate channel for interpretation: English or French. For those in the room, you can use the earpiece and select the desired channel.

I would like to remind witnesses that committee members may ask questions in either French or English. If you will need interpretation, please take a moment now to prepare your earpiece and select the listening channel you need in advance in order to take full advantage of the time allotted for questions and answers.

I will also do my best to let you know when you have one minute left.

This is a reminder that all comments should be directed through the chair.

I would now like to formally welcome our witnesses.

From HVACR Workers of Ontario, UA Local 787, I'd like to warmly welcome Mr. Andrew Tarr, business manager and financial secretary. Welcome.

From L’Hirondelle, Welcoming and Integration Services for Immigrants, we welcome Manel Rekik, general director, who is appearing by video conference.

From U15 Canada, we have James Hammond, director of public affairs. You are warmly welcomed as well.

Each one of you will have up to five minutes to give opening remarks, after which we will proceed with rounds of questions.

I'm now going to begin with Mr. Tarr.

I invite you, Mr. Tarr, to start your opening statements for five minutes. Your time begins now.

[Andrew Tarr, Business Manager and Financial Secretary, HVACR Workers of Ontario, UA Local 787]

Good afternoon. I'm Andrew Tarr, business manager with HVACR Workers of Ontario, UA Local 787.

I represent 5,538 building service professionals—313A refrigeration and air-conditioning mechanics, and 313D residential air-conditioning mechanics, pipe welders and gas technicians. I've been in this position for 14 years. Prior to this, I was a business agent for three years. I worked within the joint union-management training department for another three years with apprenticeships. Our main office is in Brampton, but we represent refrigeration workers right across Ontario.

Today I hope to provide a quick insight into what is happening at the ground level with immigration, particularly work permits. It's no secret that there's a feared labour shortage and that governments at all levels are working to make sure people are aware of the trades. Unfortunately, with all the hard work, there's a major disconnect between the levels of government and failures in the work permit system.

I've attached with my submission two examples of issues—not the most recent, but the easiest ones to find. They're work permits that have been supplied to me of people who are trying to get into the union.

The first work permit is an open work permit. The person who has that work permit can't get work other than in the sex trades, and they're limited in taking any training. The second work permit was issued to a person who I believe was sponsored here by a company. They come from Australia, and they claim that they are experienced in the field. They got the work permit, but they had to stay with the company within Ontario.

On the first work permit, the person claimed they had experience in Ontario, but they'd never been registered as an apprentice. They claimed they had experience to work in the trade. They never were registered as an apprentice, but they'd taken a gas course. It says quite clearly on their work permit that they're not allowed to take training. When I asked the person if they were able to take training, they said they didn't have any paperwork to support taking training. They had a résumé, which I couldn't find, that showed they had experience in Ontario working as an HVAC installer.

The second permit was for a person from Australia. They claimed that they had experience. They had about 15 years' experience in Australia. When they came to Ontario to work with their work permit, they were supposed to register with Skilled Trades Ontario. There's a process. Ontario is one of the few provinces that has a process where you have to register right away and sign up for equivalency. This person failed to do that. After a year, they came to us through an organizing drive. We found out that they didn't follow through with their promise. As a union, we tried training them, but we're limited in what we can do, because they have training restrictions on their work permit.

Work permits are a big problem. As I said, people coming here don't understand what they are. They don't understand the limitations. Right now, Local 787 has 53 people with what we call “900” SINs, or social insurance numbers. Those are people on work permits. All of them are unable to train. They came to us through organizing drives. They signed up before I was aware of what 900 SINs were. The Government of Ontario had sent out a notice about two years ago that those people could not take apprenticeship programs. The only people with 900 numbers who could take apprenticeship programs were in the refugee stream, I believe.

It's becoming an issue. On work permit number one, the person had taken training at one of the colleges, I would say one of the private colleges, and had obviously supplied a résumé that he had been working in Ontario unlicensed. People like him can't get into the union. We don't bring in 900 numbers because we can't train them. They end up in the non-union world, typically working for cash and undermining our system.

That's really all I have to say: that we need to fix the work permit issue. There needs to be better follow-up with regard to work permits. If people come here on a work permit, people should be making sure that they're following the rules, and they should be making sure that, if they come here through a sponsor, they're following the rules as a tradesperson and getting their equivalencies before they start working in Ontario.

Thanks.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

Thank you, Mr. Tarr.

I now invite Ms. Rekik to give her opening statement.

Ms. Rekik, you have a maximum of five minutes.

[Manel Rekik, General Director, L'Hirondelle, Welcoming and Integration Services for Immigrants]

Madam Chair, members of the committee, I thank you for having me here today.

I am speaking in my capacity as the general director of L'Hirondelle, Welcoming and Integration Services for Immigrants, a Montreal-based organization that has been helping immigrants for nearly 50 years.

Every year, we help thousands of people to learn French, integrate into society and, most importantly, enter the workforce, thanks to financial support from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and Employment and Social Development Canada.

For five decades, we have been a privileged observer of integration. What we are seeing on the ground is a situation that deserves your full attention.

Canada selects immigrants for their skills, experience and economic potential. They go through a demanding and costly process with the legitimate hope of fully contributing to their host society.

However, upon their arrival, many people run up against a brick wall. They find it difficult to get their foreign credentials recognized. Their experience is underestimated and they are asked to provide proof of work experience in Canada, which they have not yet had the opportunity to acquire.

As a result, it is not uncommon, at least in our experience, to see engineers or health care professionals driving taxis. Highly qualified professionals remain underemployed for years. This isn't an individual integration problem. It is a systemic problem related to the use of talent.

Beyond the individual experience, this is actually a major economic issue. Canada is investing to attract talent, but it is losing some of the return on its investment once those people arrive.

From our experience, here are four priorities that warrant attention.

First, the government must recognize that the underutilization of skills works directly against productivity and economic growth. Underutilized talent is a loss for the individual and for the Canadian economy.

Second, the government must accelerate and simplify the recognition of foreign credentials and experience, while further aligning procedures among the provinces to facilitate labour mobility across Canada.

Third, the government must improve access to employment support services. Workforce integration does not happen on its own. It requires support from a professional network and real opportunities from employers. This issue is particularly important in a context of regionalization. From our experience, it is difficult to ask someone who has just been uprooted for the first time to immediately move again. We cannot talk about sustainable regionalization without advance preparation. Establishing connections with employers in the regions earlier, even before newcomers arrive in Canada, can make a huge difference.

We also see that some workers are finding themselves in vulnerable and precarious situations, particularly when the program rules change part way through the process. The instability of these pathways not only leaves individuals in a precarious position, but it also makes Canada less attractive to international applicants.

In this context, the community network plays a vital role. Specialized organizations across the country act as a bridge between talent and employers. We prepare the candidates, support businesses and build real networks. We turn potential into real employment.

Fourth, it is essential to provide better support for employers when it comes to inclusive recruitment and onboarding practices. Onboarding does not end with hiring. It is also about retention.

In closing, Canada does not just have to attract talent. It has to ensure that the talent it welcomes can quickly and fully contribute to society, because the talent is already here. In that regard, we recommend speeding up the recognition of credentials, investing more in job search support and strengthening the bridge between employers and international talent before those individuals arrive in Canada, especially in the case of regionalization.

In our opinion, workforce integration is not an expenditure. It is a strategic investment that enables us to turn human potential into a sustainable lever of economic growth for Canada.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

Thank you, Ms. Rekik.

Next, I will invite Mr. Hammond to make an opening statement of up to five minutes.

Your five minutes start now.

[James Hammond, Director, Public Affairs, U15 Canada]

Madam Chair and members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today on behalf of U15 Canada.

U15 is the association of Canada's leading research universities. Together, our institutions conduct more than 75% of all university research in Canada, enrol 70% of the country's full-time doctoral students and generate much of the country's innovation. Our universities are national assets: anchors of talent, research and innovation.

We appreciate the committee undertaking this important study into strategies to attract top global talent. After all, talent is the foundation of a successful, prosperous and resilient economy. At this uncertain moment, Canada's ability to attract, develop and retain highly qualified people who drive innovation, create new opportunities and provide the expertise Canadian businesses and communities need will be vital to our future success.

At present, however, Canada is facing a talent gap. We rank 25th in the OECD for the share of the working-age population with a graduate degree, and last in the G7. This leaves Canada at a disadvantage in the innovative, knowledge-driven sectors that will define the future economy. Anchoring world-class research talent here in Canada will be crucial if we are to continue to lead in future technologies.

Canada's leading research universities play a fundamental role in developing this talent. There are 700,000 students enrolled annually at U15 universities. They are attracted by the opportunity to work with renowned experts, access world-class facilities and graduate from internationally recognized programs. This matters, because we know that, at the advanced level, talent is highly mobile. The race to attract talented researchers is global and deeply competitive.

That is why any reforms to the international student program should be pursued with the goal of attracting the best and brightest students to Canada. A high-quality, managed system that recognizes excellence and rewards responsible institutions can help achieve the shared goal of a well-functioning study permit program that attracts the talent Canada needs.

Therefore, we welcomed the government's move to exempt graduate students from study permit caps and to commit to a two-week processing time for doctoral students. Continuing to focus on the high-quality education and research experience at U15 universities while reducing processing delays for study permits will help Canada to rebuild its reputation as a top destination for global talent.

It is also important to emphasize that attracting global talent and developing Canadian talent here at home are not competing objectives. They are mutually reinforcing. International graduate students, post-doctoral researchers and world-class faculty help extend Canada's research capacity, support Canadian students and strengthen innovation ecosystems across the country. The government's new Impact+ talent attraction initiative is a particularly important part of this strategy.

Launched in budget 2025 with the clear goal of attracting world-class researchers, this initiative is helping Canada to cultivate exceptional talent, support bold ideas and position itself for long-term success. Over recent months, leading research universities have moved quickly and diligently to recruit outstanding researchers because of this program. While we await the results of the first round, this timely initiative demonstrates what can be achieved when government and universities work together with the shared goal of securing global talent for the benefit of all Canadians.

In a similar spirit, we welcome the government's indication that it is exploring reforms to the express entry program to better align selection criteria with economic outcomes. We know that earning a degree from a leading research university in Canada remains one of the strongest predictors of future success. On average, Canadians with doctoral degrees earn double the average salary.

U15 Canada encourages the government to preserve recognition of Canadian education within express entry, particularly for undergraduate and graduate students, who form an important part of the country's highly qualified talent pipeline. U15 is ready to continue working closely with government and all partners to ensure that Canada has the people it needs to succeed in an increasingly competitive global economy.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

Thank you so much, Mr. Hammond.

That wraps up our opening statements. Now we move to rounds of questions and answers. The first round is six minutes each.

We will begin with Mr. Ho for six minutes.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair.

My questions are for the representative at U15.

Mr. Hammond, what you left out in your opening remarks is that U15 is a registered lobbyist and a prolific lobby group that represents the interests of the ever-expanding and bloated university bureaucracy. Your organization lobbied the federal government 936 times in the last 14 years, averaging 66 times per year.

In a press release, U15 welcomed the exemption of foreign master's and Ph.D students from the 2026 Liberal so-called study permit cap as “an important step” and said it was “vital”. However, when you put an exemption to a cap, then it's not a cap at all. What the Liberals have ultimately done, after you lobbied them, is create this back door to letting in unlimited numbers of foreign international students.

Why did U15 push for a broad exemption for a cap on foreign graduate students rather than a narrower policy targeted only to verified labour shortages or critical research fields?

[James Hammond]

Thank you for the question.

Firstly, I want to start by emphasizing that our universities are absolutely committed to creating opportunities for all Canadians. As I said in my opening remarks, a degree from a U15 university remains one of the best guarantees of opportunities for any Canadian who pursues education at a U15 university. At the same time, as we know, advanced talent is highly mobile, and the competitive nature of attracting that talent is very hard—

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

Mr. Hammond, I find it really hard to believe the words that are coming out of your mouth right now—that you're advocating for Canadian students.

You're at the immigration committee right now. You lobbied the federal government 936 times. You met with IRCC officials. How is talking to the immigration department of the federal government advocating for Canadian students? How does immigration policy affect...?

Maybe if you wanted to talk to the science committee or if you wanted to talk to the National Research Council to advocate for more research funds, that would be understandable. How does advocating at the immigration committee advance the interests of Canadian students?

[James Hammond]

Thank you for the question.

Graduate students, especially doctoral students, make a massive contribution to Canada's research capacity and to the innovation capacity in this country. They work in labs with Canadian researchers. They support Canadian research projects. They contribute to discoveries and innovations that help grow the Canadian economy and create opportunities for all Canadians. We felt that exemption was important because it recognizes that graduate students play a crucial role that goes well beyond their own teaching and learning experience and contributes to the wider research ecosystem in Canada.

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

Following up on the back door—you call it an exemption, but it's really a back door—the U15 and its members had access to senior IRCC officials during the 2026 Liberal policy development of a back door to unlimited international students.

How many meetings did U15 hold with organizations representing unemployed Canadian youth, underemployed graduates or Canadian students competing for research opportunities during that same time period?

[James Hammond]

Thank you for the question.

We heard often from student union groups. We engage closely with graduate students who are working at Canadian universities. We remain committed to ensuring, like I said, that U15 universities support opportunities for all Canadians who go through our universities in—

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

On that note, do you represent students, or do you represent the university bureaucracies, which are ever expanding?

[James Hammond]

U15 Canada represents Canada's leading research universities, which help drive the innovation ecosystem beyond just the work that happens on campus.

It's also important to note that graduate students help perform federally funded research grants. They help work closely with Canadian businesses and industries that are looking to drive innovation—

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

You don't represent the students.

[James Hammond]

U15 Canada is an association of Canada's leading research universities.

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

That's what I thought. When I look at the “About Us” page on your website, nowhere does it mention students. The word “student” isn't even mentioned.

U15 says this Liberal backdoor exemption to unlimited foreign students helped Canada attract the “world's best and brightest”. Your member universities also charge international students much higher tuition than domestic students.

How do you respond to the criticism that this lobbying was as much about protecting university revenue as it was about attracting talent?

[James Hammond]

As I said, graduate students directly contribute to the research projects that Canadian researchers and Canadian faculty are engaged in. They form innovation partnerships. They help with the training of other highly qualified personnel.

Allowing graduate students to enter Canada is really about creating a global pool of knowledge here in Canada that will help create opportunities for all Canadians.

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

On that point, let me ask you this: Honestly, can most Canadian universities survive without international students, yes or no?

[James Hammond]

I can't speak to that question. I only represent the U15 leading research universities here in Canada. As I mentioned, our mandate is focused on the research capacity of our universities and, beyond that, the research ecosystem in Canada.

As I mentioned, the role that graduate students play is vitally necessary to the broader economic opportunities in Canada, ensuring that we continue to lead in the development and the advancement of new technologies that will create opportunities for all Canadians, and—