Debates of June 9th, 2025

Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Chair, we know it is 40-some million people. I do not have the exact number—

[The Assistant Deputy Chair, Conservative, John Nater]

The hon. member.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Mr. Chair, I will help the minister. It was published in their report last fall, and it got a lot of coverage because it implied that the population of Canada was going to decrease. Therefore, the question is this: Are we on track to achieve that reduction in population?

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Chair, we are on track to meet the target that we have set for our immigration number, and that is to reduce the overall number of permanent and temporary residents in this country.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Mr. Chair, just to help the minister, according to Statistics Canada, we are at 41.7 million people right now. That is 200,000 more people than at the end of last year, and 500,000 more people than the minister's plan. What is the minister doing to make sure that she achieves her plan for this year?

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Chair, it is a known fact that if we do not have immigration to this country, we cannot fill our labour gaps. Immigration is what drives this economy. It is the people who are coming—

[The Assistant Deputy Chair, Conservative, John Nater]

The hon. member.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Mr. Chair, they are actually increasing the population. Is that what the minister is saying?

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Chair, what I have said is that the 2025 to 2027 targets have been set, have been labelled—

[The Assistant Deputy Chair, Conservative, John Nater]

The hon. member.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Mr. Chair, would the minister ever alter reports to remove data?

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Chair, I do not believe I alter reports. That is not my job.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Côte-du-Sud—Rivière-du-Loup—Kataskomiq—Témiscouata, QC]

Mr. Chair, does the minister think that we should reduce immigration to Canada? If so, does she think that should happen soon? If so, by how much should we cut immigration? I would like the minister to give me a number.

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Chair, this is an important issue, and we are working with officials to reduce the numbers.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Côte-du-Sud—Rivière-du-Loup—Kataskomiq—Témiscouata, QC]

Mr. Chair, what is the number?

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Chair, the numbers are already available. I also spoke with my colleague—

[The Assistant Deputy Chair, Conservative, John Nater]

The hon. member for Côte‑du‑Sud—Rivière‑du‑Loup—Kataskomiq—Témiscouata.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Côte-du-Sud—Rivière-du-Loup—Kataskomiq—Témiscouata, QC]

Mr. Chair, these two numbers are public. The minister must know what they are.

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Chair, we are talking about 5% of the population by 2027.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Côte-du-Sud—Rivière-du-Loup—Kataskomiq—Témiscouata, QC]

Mr. Chair, earlier, my colleague asked what the population of Canada was, and the minister was unable to answer. Will she answer by saying how much this 5% decrease represents?

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Chair, it is 5% of the national population by 2027.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Côte-du-Sud—Rivière-du-Loup—Kataskomiq—Témiscouata, QC]

Mr. Chair, the government is going to bring in hundreds of thousands of people this year when millions of Canadians do not even have access to a family doctor. Why?

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Chair, that is probably a question for the Minister of Health, but what I can say is that we are looking for doctors and nurses to come and help us here.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Côte-du-Sud—Rivière-du-Loup—Kataskomiq—Témiscouata, QC]

Mr. Chair, it is funny how the minister is unable to answer our questions. She refers them to other ministers.

In any case, there is also a housing shortage in Canada. Quebeckers are sleeping in their cars right now because they cannot afford to pay their rent. However, the government continues to increase its immigration levels. Why?

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Chair, once again, it is not the fault of immigrants.

Yes, there is an economic crisis, and we, on this side of the House, are working to reduce the number of temporary and permanent visas because we know that there is a crisis. We are continuing to work—