Citizenship and Immigration Committee on Oct. 21st, 2025

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Your own rules say that if someone gives immigration advice, they must be a licensed representative. That's correct, right?

[Harpreet S. Kochhar]

That is correct.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Why do you allow colleges or designated learning institutions to use unlicensed agents overseas to steer people into our system?

[Harpreet S. Kochhar]

We don't have any authority to do that overseas. We have authority only in Canada, where only registered consultants give the advice. What happens outside of Canada is not something we can—

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Do we not have control over the designated learning institutes in Canada? Can we not tell them how to do things?

[Harpreet S. Kochhar]

We absolutely do. We give them very clear guidance on what it means if fraud is detected, what happens as a consequence and what it means. Again, as I mentioned, we don't have control outside of Canada.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

Thank you, Mr. Kochhar, and thank you, Mr. Redekopp.

We now go to Mr. Peter Fragiskatos for five minutes.

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, London Centre, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you to the officials for being here.

Deputy Minister, I'll allow you to elaborate, as much as you wish, on that answer regarding processing times and levels and the way in which levels, as set in the levels plan, determine wait times. I think that's an important connection to make. I want you to be on the record on that question.

[Harpreet S. Kochhar]

As is the case every year, we set up a permanent resident levels plan, which divides into the economic category, family reunification and the H and C category. We do dedicate a number to that. It is presented in Parliament. That is how we execute this. Last year the number was 485,000 and we got 483,000. This year the number is 395,000, and that's what we will do.

In that category, we also have a subclassification of how many of those would be under the humanitarian and compassionate category and how many would be protected persons. Based on this, the levels space is allocated to particular vulnerable groups who are in Canada, so Hong Kong, Sudan and any others who want to get into those programs will be allocated that space.

It is a limited space. However, there are people who are in line. If there is an opportunity for us to actually move them quickly, if there is any space in the levels, that's how we will be able to manage that. Barring that, it is first in, first out. That is how we are determining how many people are actually coming to permanent residency in a fixed capacity model.

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, London Centre, ON]

Thank you very much.

Speaking of the levels plan, the one for 2025 through to 2027 talks about the 2025 number being at 673,000 plus, as we have heard today. Earlier there was a question about 700,000 or thereabouts, in excess of it. I think there was some back-and-forth. I think the committee needs some clarification on that particular figure.

Deputy Minister, the question goes to you or to Ms. Gill, as you wish.

[Harpreet S. Kochhar]

I'll respond on that one.

The total new arrivals target for 2025 is 673,650, to be more precise. Out of this we are planning to have 367,750 given to work permits and 350,900 to the student permit. For arrivals until now, which is the end of August, I think, it is 200,500 in the work permit. That is 167,000 people left in the work permit category and only 89,200 in the student permit. Again, that is around 110,000 students left from what is our target.

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, London Centre, ON]

Can I go to Ms. Gill then on this confusion or the question that existed on the 700,000 compared to the 600,000 number on temporary residents.

Ms. Gill, you were giving an answer to that question before. I just want to hear it again.

[Pemi Gill]

Of course.

With regard to student and worker new arrivals to Canada, this information is on our website. We are publishing it monthly. It is effective as of the August 31 data on there. What we are showing is that as part of the levels plan for 2025, we have a target or a planned admission of up to 673,650 across new students and new workers arriving in Canada. However, that is not, within the year, the same number of people we have approved, who then get a permit that means they can come to Canada. It's only upon arrival in Canada.

For example, a student might have applied in the months of July or August of this year. We have assessed their application. We've approved it. However, they are not starting school until next year. They will not arrive in Canada until 2026, at which time we will count them against the arrivals target, which is what the target is in the levels plan.

It's important that we keep the numbers for permits issued separate from arrivals—

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

Thank you. I'm sorry. That's time for five minutes. You can respond in the next....

We have four minutes left in this round. I think I'll give two minutes to each party, if that's okay.

Does that work for everyone?

I said one minute, but I think we could do two minutes.

Mr. Ma, we will start with you for two minutes, please.

[Michael Ma, Conservative, Markham—Unionville, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Mr. Deputy Minister, you mentioned earlier that you modernized the systems and processes to be efficient. Many of the Hong Kong pathway applicants who have inquired with IRCC have confirmed that they have received all the necessary approvals, yet months pass and they are still waiting for the issuance of their PR.

Can you tell us what the holdup is? What's wrong with this process? What are you going to personally do about fixing this problem?

Thank you.

[Harpreet S. Kochhar]

As we were just mentioning, it is not about the lack of any documents; it is about the levels of space. We have limited levels of space through which we will have to adjust those who have applied through Hong Kong. Just to ensure that they are not being turned back, we are making sure that their work permit is valid, and we are extending them so they can stay here and continue with their life until their turn arrives for permanent residence.

[Michael Ma, Conservative, Markham—Unionville, ON]

However, many people are waiting for their expired work permits to be renewed. This is impacting their employment status, as well as their children's ability to attend school.

Can you please look into this?

[Harpreet S. Kochhar]

Absolutely, we are prioritizing the work permit extensions. Anyway, our rule is that there is an implied status; if you have applied for an extension and you already hold a work permit, that's an implied status. We can look into that one.

[Michael Ma, Conservative, Markham—Unionville, ON]

The last point is on the retained status. It is not clear. Most universities and employers don't understand what it means. They are looking for an approved work permit. If you could clarify that or rapidly issue the work permit, that would resolve a lot of misunderstanding.

[Harpreet S. Kochhar]

We are committed to reducing our processing time, which should come down to the standard service time. We are publishing on our website that implied status means that they have applied and we are still to adjudicate there.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

Thank you, Mr. Kochhar.

Thank you, Mr. Ma.

Ms. Sodhi, you have two minutes.

[Amandeep Sodhi, Liberal, Brampton Centre, ON]

Thank you all for being here today.

My first question is for Mr. Kochhar.

Are you able to tell the committee how many approved temporary residents there were in 2024 compared to 2025? Could I have simple numbers, please?

[Harpreet S. Kochhar]

Are we looking for work permits?

[Amandeep Sodhi, Liberal, Brampton Centre, ON]

It's for temporary residents.

[Harpreet S. Kochhar]

In terms of temporary residents approved during the same time, from January to August, it was five million temporary residents. That is for 2024.

I think what you're probably looking for is information that we have in terms of a comparison from January to August. Let me compare that. There were 5.022 million temporary residents overall. In January to August in 2025, we have 4.389 million temporary residents overall. That's the comparison between the two at the same time period.