Debates of Nov. 18th, 2024

Question No.3026—

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, AAFC, which includes the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency, undertook a preliminary search in order to determine the amount of information that would fall within the scope of the question and the amount of time that would be required to prepare a comprehensive response. The information requested is not systematically tracked in a centralized database. AAFC concluded that producing and validating a comprehensive response to this question would require a manual collection of information that is not possible in the time allotted and could lead to the disclosure of incomplete and misleading information.

Question No.3031—

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Edmonton, AB]

With regard to the government’s announcement on September 27, 2023, that it would provide $14 million to help Afghan refugees and host communities impacted by flooding in Pakistan: (a) what is the breakdown of the $14 million, including how much went to (i) the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), (ii) the World Health Organization (WHO), (iii) other recipients, including how much each received; (b) what are the details of the amount that went to the UNHCR, including (i) which specific projects it funded, (ii) how much funding each project received, (iii) who administered the project; (c) what are the details of the amount that went to the WHO, including (i) which specific projects it funded, (ii) how much funding each project received, (iii) who administered the project; and (d) what specific oversights were in place to ensure that the funding was spent appropriately and did not end up in the hands of the Taliban or other groups that were not intended to receive the funding?

[Anita Vandenbeld, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development]

Mr. Speaker, the following reflects a consolidated response approved on behalf of Global Affairs Canada, GAC, ministers.

With regard to part (a), on September 27, 2023, the Government of Canada publicly announced funding for two development assistance projects, valued at a total of $14 million, in support of Afghan refugees and host-communities impacted by the 2022 flood crisis in Pakistan. Of the total $14 million announced, $10 million in development assistance funding was provided by the Government of Canada and directly received by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR, for project implementation efforts within Pakistan. Of the total $14 million announced, $4 million in development assistance funding was provided by the Government of Canada and directly received by the World Health Organization, WHO, for project implementation efforts within Pakistan. None of the $14 million announced by the Government of Canada was provided to or received by other recipients.

With regard to part (b), the funds provided to UNHCR by the Government of Canada supported essential services for Afghan refugees and host communities grappling with the flood crisis in Pakistan. The $10 million in development assistance funded a bilateral Government of Canada project entitled “Essential Services to Afghan Refugees and Host Communities in Pakistan”. The Government of Canada allocated the full $10 million in development funding to this project. It is fully administered directly by UNHCR in Pakistan.

With regard to part (c), the development funding provided by the Government of Canada to WHO was in support of health services to Afghan refugees and host communities in flood affected areas in Pakistan. The $4 million in development assistance supported the project entitled “Health Assistance for Afghan Refugees and Host Communities in Pakistan”. This project received the full $4 million allocation. It is administered directly by WHO in Pakistan.

With regard to part (d), project funds were directly provided by the Government of Canada to UNHCR and WHO for programming delivered to support Afghan refugees and host-communities located within Pakistan. Global Affairs Canada exercises due diligence to oversee and monitor project implementation and delivery to ensure the effective use of Canadian funds for approved purposes. These efforts include, but are not limited to, visiting project implementation sites in Pakistan, meeting with project partners and beneficiaries in Pakistan and requiring that programing partners provide the Government of Canada with project financial and results reporting. In addition, the Government of Canada includes anti-terrorism clauses in its funding agreements with humanitarian and development partners to prevent funds from being diverted.

The links referenced are as follows. The Government of Canada news release, NR, project announcement, dated September 27, 2023, is at https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2023/09/canada-announces-funding-to-help-afghan-refugees-and-host-communities-impacted-by-last-years-flooding-in-pakistan.html. Global Affairs Canada’s project browser link for UNHCR implemented project information, last updated in September 2024, is at https://w05.international.gc.ca/projectbrowser-banqueprojets/project-projet/details/p012289001. Global Affairs Canada’s project browser link for WHO implemented project information, last updated in September 2024, is at https://w05.international.gc.ca/projectbrowser-banqueprojets/project-projet/details/p011526001.

Question No.3033—

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

With regard to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC): (a) how does IRCC use artificial intelligence (AI) in the processing of applications; (b) what concerns or issues about the use of AI in the processing of applications is IRCC aware of, and how has each one of those concerns or issues been addressed; and (c) does IRCC use AI in any circumstances outside of the processing of applications and, if so, how is it used?

[Paul Chiang, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, with regard to part (a), Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, IRCC, uses advanced analytics, AA; artificial intelligence, AI; and other non-AI-based automated decision support systems to identify routine applications for streamlined processing and make positive decisions on these applications, as well as to perform other functions, such as the sorting of applications based on common characteristics and flagging potential risk factors that may then be investigated by an officer.

This enables IRCC to automate some processing steps for routine applications. By leveraging technology, IRCC is able to direct officer resources toward more complex applications and increase the efficiency of our processing.

These systems do not use opaque AI, do not automatically learn or adjust on their own and are not used to refuse any applications, recommend refusing applications or deny entry to Canada. IRCC does not use any external generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, in support of decision-making on client applications. IRCC officers remain central to immigration processing and continue to exercise their authority and discretion in decision-making.

With regard to part (b), IRCC is aware that the use of AI in the processing of applications raises concerns related to bias, transparency, privacy, accuracy, reliability, etc.

At this time, none of IRCC’s automated decision support tools, including those that have been developed with AA and AI, can refuse an application, nor can they recommend a refusal to an officer. All final decisions to refuse applications are made by officers after individualized assessments of a file. Officers are provided with training on IRCC’s automated decision support systems in order to ensure they understand that a lack of an automated approval does not constitute a recommendation to refuse an application.

To address AI concerns or issues, IRCC follows the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, TBS, directives and conducts algorithmic impact assessments, AIA, for all relevant automated processes and tool systems that play a role in administrative decision-making, whether these systems use AI or not. The AIA is a Government of Canada governance process intended to assist in determining risk and mitigate potential negative impacts of automated decision-making systems.

The department has developed detailed guidance, which includes a policy playbook on automated support for decision-making, to help consider how these technologies can be used responsibly, effectively and efficiently. IRCC has also established an internal governance framework to ensure that AI support tools go through a rigorous review and approval process, which includes coordination with legal experts, policy experts and privacy experts.

Furthermore, IRCC has endorsed its comprehensive AI strategy, which is being finalized to be published in the coming months. This strategy outlines the department’s responsible approach to AI adoption, and places a significant emphasis on implementing strong AI governance while integrating new policies, guidelines and best practices.

With regard to part (c), IRCC uses AI beyond application processing: IRCC is piloting AI for fraud detection, for triaging client emails to provide faster replies and for aiding research and policy development. IRCC also uses AI-powered computer vision to help validate identities, to crop passport photos and, for the online citizenship test, to prevent cheating. IRCC uses natural language processing to categorize client enquiries, freeing officers for client support, which powers QUAID, a chatbot for handling general enquiries with pre-set responses. Lastly, IRCC has opened up public generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT and CoPilot, for employees to use for personal productivity regarding drafting emails, translation, drafting presentations, etc., and has provided guidance to employees aligned to the TBS policy on the use of generative AI for personal productivity.

In alignment with the Privacy Act and the Access to Information Act, IRCC has drafted internal guidance on the use of generative artificial intelligence in application processing. Employees have been clearly informed that entering personal, sensitive, classified and protected information into external AI tools is non-compliant with the Privacy Act and IRCC’s approach. Additionally, IRCC is educating employees and following TBS’s newly published “Generative AI in your daily work” directive, found at https://www.canada.ca/en/government/system/digital-government/digital-government-innovations/responsible-use-ai/generative-ai-your-daily-work.html, which describes how generative AI should and should not be used.

Question No.3036—

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

With regard to the Prime Minister’s announcement that Mark Carney would chair the Prime Minister’s task force on economic growth, has the government: (a) received a list of who are the other members of the task force, and, if so, who are they; (b) been made aware of the dates the task force met, and, if so, on what dates; and (c) been provided with recommendations that the task force made related to economic growth, and, if so, what were the recommendations?

[Terry Duguid, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and Special Advisor for Water]

Mr. Speaker, the individual named in the Order Paper question has not been appointed to any Government of Canada roles since October 2007, when he was appointed as Governor of the Bank of Canada by the Hon. Jim Flaherty, the then minister of finance.

Questions Passed as Orders for Returns

[Ahmed Hussen, Liberal, Minister of International Development]

Madam Speaker, if the government's response to Questions Nos. 2999 to 3002, 3004 to 3009, 3011 to 3018, 3020 to 3023, 3025, 3027 to 3030, 3032, 3034, 3035, 3037 and 3038 could be made orders for return, these returns would be tabled in an electronic format immediately.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

Is it agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Question No.2999—

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

With regard to government funding for Équiterre, since November 4, 2015, broken down by department or agency: (a) what are the details of each instance where the government provided funding to Équiterre, including, for each, the (i) date, (ii) amount, (iii) type of funding (grant, loan, contract, etc.), (iv) details of the funding agreement, (v) purpose of the funding; and (b) for each funding instance that was in the form of a contract, was the contract awarded through a sole-sourced or competitive bid process?

(Return tabled)

Question No.3000—

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

With regard to government assistance available to clients of the Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada: (a) what is the duration of the program from a client’s date of arrival in Canada to its end; (b) what are the criteria for determining the duration of the program for each client; (c) what are the criteria required for extending the duration of the program, and for how long can it be extended; (d) what are the criteria for determining the allowance amount for each client; (e) what is the total possible amount of the monthly allowance per client category; (f) what is the total possible amount of monthly allowance under the employment incentive policy of the RAP program per client category; (g) what is the total amount to which RAP recipients are entitled per month through the child tax benefit per client category; (h) what is the total amount to which recipients are entitled per month through the RAP housing top-up allowance per client category; (i) what is the total amount of the start-up allowance entitled to clients of the program, broken down by client category; and (j) what are the minimum and maximum allowances of other sources of income available to RAP clients, broken down by client category and type of income?

(Return tabled)

Question No.3001—

[Clifford Small, Conservative, Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL]

With regard to federally-funded salmon hatcheries in British Columbia, the Maritimes and Newfoundland and Labrador: (a) how many federally-funded salmon hatcheries are currently in operation in (i) British Columbia, (ii) the Maritimes, (iii) Newfoundland and Labrador; (b) what has been the yearly amount of federal funding spent on hatcheries, broken down by each of the last five years, in (i) British Columbia, (ii) the Maritimes, (iii) Newfoundland and Labrador; (c) how many salmon smolts were released in total from these hatcheries, broken down by each of the last five years, in (i) British Columbia, (ii) the Maritimes, (iii) Newfoundland and Labrador; (d) for each of the next five years, how many additional hatcheries are planned for (i) British Columbia, (ii) the Maritimes, (iii) Newfoundland and Labrador; (e) for each of the next five years, how many additional salmon smolts will be released in (i) British Columbia, (ii) the Maritimes, (iii) Newfoundland and Labrador; and (f) for each of the next five years, how much additional spending will be required for the additional hatcheries, broken down by each of the regions in (d)?

(Return tabled)

Question No.3002—

[Clifford Small, Conservative, Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL]

With regard to information held by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans on Northern cod, Greenland halibut and redfish: (a) for Northern cod, what is the average catch rate (i) per net per hour in a 5.5 inch mesh in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization's (NAFO) areas 2J, 3K and 3L in kilograms, (ii) per hook used in NAFO areas 2J, 3K and 3L in kilograms, broken down by area in each of the last five years, based on fish harvester logbook submissions; (b) for Greenland halibut, what (i) is the average catch rate per net per hour in NAFO areas 2J, 3K and 3L in gill nets broken down by area in each of the last five years, (ii) percentage of migratory area is within Canadian waters compared to NAFO waters outside Canada's 200 mile limit, (iii) percentage of the quota is issued to the Canadian fleet vs NAFO allocation, (iv) has the biomass been for each of the last five years for the stock inside and outside Canada's 200 mile limit; and (c) for redfish, what is the biomass in NAFO areas 2J and 3K in each of the last seven years, broken down by area and year?

(Return tabled)

Question No.3004—

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

With regard to the government providing financial aid to the Palestinian Territories (Gaza): (a) what is the total amount of financial aid given to the Palestinian Territories (Gaza) (i) between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2022, (ii) between January 1, 2023, and September 30, 2023, (iii) since October 1, 2023; (b) what is the breakdown of (a) by specific federal program through which the aid was administered; (c) what are the details of each grant, including the (i) website where the grant is applicable online, (ii) date of the application, (iii) department or agency administering the aid or grant, (iv) purpose of the federal aid or grant provided to the Palestinian Territories (Gaza), (v) date of the provision of aid, (vi) recipient, (vii) file number; (d) was federal aid given directly to the Palestinian Territories (Gaza) or a third-party organization, and, if so, how much was given to each; and (e) if aid was given to third-party organizations, what (i) are the names of each organization, (ii) are the dates on which the aid or grant was provided, (iii) is the rationale for selecting each organization, (iv) is the total amount given to each organization, (v) reporting obligations were required from each organization on the use of the aid, if any?

(Return tabled)

Question No.3005—

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, MB]

With regard to the government's response to Order Paper question Q-2695 concerning individuals who were made to repay or whose COVID-era benefits such as the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, the Canada Emergency Student Benefit, the Canada Recovery Benefit, the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit, the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit or the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit were clawed back by the CRA: (a) what is the number of individuals with a COVID-19 benefit "repayment or clawback", broken down by (i) income group, (ii) province or territory of residence; and (b) what is the total number of individuals who were affected and the total amount which was repaid or clawed back by the government?

(Return tabled)

Question No.3006—

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

With regard to the government’s refocused spending initiatives in departments and agencies, broken down by item and year: what programs and initiatives from the (i) Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, (ii) Department of National Defence, (iii) Department of Veterans Affairs, (iv) Department of Health, (v) Public Health Agency of Canada, are expected to see funding refocused?

(Return tabled)

Question No.3007—

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

With regard to board of directors' meetings at the Canada Infrastructure Bank in which a declaration, conflict, potential perception of conflict, abstention or recusal was noted in the meeting minutes from December 1, 2022, to April 30, 2024: what are the details of each instance noted in the meeting minutes, broken down by director, including (i) the decision in question, (ii) the amount of funding tied to the decision, (iii) the name of the entity receiving funding related to the decision, (iv) the name of the board member for whom a declaration, conflict, potential perception of conflict, abstention or recusal was noted, (v) the reason for which the declaration, conflict, potential perception of conflict, abstention or recusal was divulged by the board member, (vi) whether the board member held a private interest in the decision?