Official Languages Committee on March 28th, 2022

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

I represent a majority francophone riding. We have a large francophone pool at home in eastern Ontario, although the percentage of newcomers has fallen from 66% to 60%, which troubles me.

Representatives of the Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario testified before the committee a few weeks ago and offered some suggestions. Among other things, they asked us whether the Canadian government, in partnership with the Ontario government, could help them access those francophones through the express entry system or the province's immigration program.

Are you considering these options as a way to help us meet our objectives? It's not important whether assistance comes from the federal or provincial government as long as the objectives are met.

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Central Nova, NS]

It's essential that the Canadian and provincial governments advance a strategy to attract francophone newcomers.

Some provinces, including Nova Scotia, have already adopted strategies. When our colleague Ms. Diab was minister, she established objectives for that province, and that changed a lot of things in Nova Scotia.

The federal government also needs to announce measures for these streams that are purely under federal jurisdiction and that the provinces don't have a say over. We're not going to achieve targets if one group does their homework and the other group doesn't do anything. So the answer to your question is yes, and we need to keep working together and then both advance this issue.

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Mr. Chair, I'd be happy if the minister from Nova Scotia or Scotland, since there's a Scottish community in my riding, managed to achieve the objectives that've been set, which would help us resolve the issue once and for all.

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

You have one minute left, Mr. Drouin. Do you want to share your time with a colleague?

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Actually, I'd find it annoying to ask the minister a question if he didn't have a chance to complete his answer.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Thank you, Mr. Drouin.

That completes the round of questions. The minister has appeared before the committee for one hour.

We will suspend briefly to allow him to leave the room.

When we return, we can speak with the members of his team, who will be staying with us.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

We are ready to resume.

For the next hour, we welcome Ms. Xavier, Ms. Prince and Ms. Hiles.

Mr. Gourde, go ahead for five minutes.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Thanks to the witnesses for being with us today.

What are the Canadian government's approximate immigration targets for the next three years?

[Caroline Xavier, Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Citizenship and Immigration]

Good afternoon.

Thank you for that question.

As the minister said earlier, we presented the immigration plan for the next three years in February. We intend to admit 431,000 immigrants this year, 447,000 next year and 451,000 in 2024.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

Thank you very much.

Assuming there's a massive influx of refugees from Ukraine, as the government has promised, and that 300,000 Ukrainians enter the country, will we keep the same target of approximately 400,000 immigrants, or will we subtract the number of Ukrainian refugees from that number?

[Caroline Xavier]

Thank you for that question.

We always ensure that our immigration plan allows for the admission of a certain number of refugees in the event of a crisis. We take that into account.

As the minister explained, and as you perhaps know, the plan announced on March 17 concerned the temporary admission of Ukrainians because we expect they'll want to return to their country.

Some will probably want to stay permanently. In that connection, we announced on March 17 that we'd be introducing a family reunification program to allow a number of individuals to immigrate permanently. That's included in the plans we've developed. We want to avoid making changes that might affect the priorities the government has announced.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

The biometric tests in Ukraine seem to be delaying the arrival of Ukrainians who need our help. Here in Canada, we unfortunately can't help them except by admitting them. In any case, I believe our resources are very limited.

Would it be possible to expedite the process associated with the biometric tests?

It seems very difficult, and demand is very strong.

[Caroline Xavier]

Thank you for that question.

The situation in Ukraine is definitely disconcerting. We're trying to work as quickly as possible. That's why the temporary immigration program was put in place. It'll help us expedite application processing. We're working with the—

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

Pardon me for interrupting, but you aren't answering my question.

What's currently causing problems with regard to Ukraine are the biometric tests.

Do you have an idea of the number of tests that can be administered on a daily basis?

How many biometric tests per day can be administered to Ukrainians who want to come to Canada?

[Caroline Xavier]

There's a certain number of tests that can be administered at every visa office. When people apply, they have to get an appointment.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

How many are there?

[Caroline Xavier]

I don't have the numbers to hand, but I could get them to you later.

My colleague Ms. Prince tells me we have capacity for 8,000 appointments a week for biometric tests.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

You mean capacity in Poland, where the situation is urgent, don't you?

[Caroline Xavier]

That's correct.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

Pardon me for interrupting, Mr. Gourde.

A point of order was raised earlier, and we resolved the matter. Consequently, in all fairness, I should remind you that we must stick to the subject under study. Your question is off topic.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

Ms. Xavier, will you accept applications from francophone Ukrainians on a priority basis, if they request it?

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

That's a very good question, but you only have five seconds left, Mr. Gourde.

Mr. Serré, you now have the floor for five minutes.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lévis—Lotbinière, QC]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

Honestly, my question is really important. You asked me to get back on topic in response to a point of order, and now I have a point of order. There are francophone Ukrainians who want to enter Canada. Consequently, I'd like our officials to be able to answer us.

[The Chair, Liberal, René Arseneault]

I'll stop the clock for Mr. Serré's intervention.

Mr. Gourde, you understood the point of order. The same point of order was raised when Mr. Beaulieu spoke, and in all fairness I called you to order when you spoke, but you had only five seconds left.

I'll restart the clock.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Mr. Chair, I have a point of order.