Debates of June 9th, 2025

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

[The Assistant Deputy Chair, Conservative, John Nater]

The hon. minister.

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

Mr. Chair, we believe in a well-managed, sustainable immigration system.

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Chair, congratulations on your post. I know that you are from southwestern Ontario as well.

It is an honour to rise as the member for London North Centre and also as the newly appointed parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, London Centre, ON]

I was not fishing, but I will take it.

It is certainly going to be an honour as well to work with the minister, members of the government and all colleagues in this House on this very important issue.

Mr. Chair, when we think of immigration, of course we think of many things, but at the core of it is finding a way forward to support our economy. That, I think, is central to this question: How can we support our economy?

The immigration system has always played a fundamental role in that regard, but it is also a source of pride and it is an example of how Canada can continue to foster the values that come with diversity, to foster a kind of society that is inclusive, with all of those benefits that flow from the multicultural society that is Canada.

In fact, I speak of my own background here, but I think almost every one of us in this House who does not claim indigenous ancestry can point to immigration. My mother's side of my family came here in the 1950s from Greece, and in my father's case, it was in the early seventies. He also migrated here from Greece to find a better path, to find new opportunities. That is what Canada certainly afforded him.

However, we do have to make sure that there is a balance, and in the throne speech that was recently given by King Charles in the name of the government, we did see that balance articulated. The main estimates reflect this, of course. There is going to be a decrease in the number of permanent residents, along with the number of temporary residents, and that is reflected in the estimates, because there is less funding that is being requested.

Let me just go over those numbers briefly. In 2025, 395,000 permanent residents will be in Canada; in 2026, there will be 380,000, and in 2027, there will be 365,000. The number of temporary residents, meaning international students and temporary foreign workers, will be capped at 5%, as we heard the minister articulate just a few moments ago. They will make up 5% of Canada's population by 2027.

There is a rationale to all of this. We heard from the Canadian population. We saw this government run on a platform that championed many things, but making sure there is that balance, as I mentioned before, in our immigration system was one of those issues. Housing capacity is a factor. Ensuring that public services are sustainable is another factor, and there is also the labour market.

Let me just point to that. I began my comments here tonight by talking about the importance of the economy. When we do that, we cannot ignore the labour market. It is central to the economy, and its needs can be met, in large part, by immigration. In fact, we see areas that are in need that are served by immigration, which will continue. I am thinking in particular of the health care sector and the construction sector. I will talk about residential construction as well.

First of all, with regard to health care, immigrants account for no less than 25% of all health care sector workers in Canada. That is a little-known fact, but a very important one. It speaks to the issue that we are taking up here tonight. Let us break that down a bit: 25% of registered nurses and 42% of nurse aides and related occupations are immigrants, as well as 43% of pharmacists, 37% of physicians, 45% of dentists and 61% of dental technologists and related occupations. This, of course, comes from the website of the IRCC. It reflects, as I say, the importance of immigration in ensuring that labour market needs are met.

Certainly, our health care system is challenged in a number of different ways. We do hear from the provinces about the importance of making sure that roles are fulfilled. There is a continued need for nurses and doctors. I also mentioned pharmacists. There are many examples that the immigration system can serve. Of course there will be opportunities, and there are opportunities, for Canadian-born citizens, but the immigration system is vital as well.

Let us talk about construction and, as I said, residential construction. Prior to this role, I had the pleasure of working as the parliamentary secretary responsible for housing. Housing is an issue in my community. Housing is an issue, a challenge—a crisis, in fact—across the country. We have to do better to ensure that market-based housing in the form of rentals and ultimately home ownership is more affordable for Canadians, in particular young Canadians, but we also have to address the challenge of homelessness. We have to make sure that people are off the street and given a roof to live under and are provided with the wraparound supports that are so vital in ensuring the transition to something better and the recovery that comes along with that.

As far as residential construction is concerned, again from the IRCC's data, immigrants account for 23% of all general contractors of residential buildings. Let me break that down further: 20% of all roofers are immigrants, 16% of all electricians, 15% of all carpenters, 14% of plumbers and 12% of steamfitters and pipefitters. There are many other examples, but I choose to focus on just these. They are absolutely central to homebuilding.

There are home builders in the Chair's community and home builders in my community. I acknowledge the incredible advocacy of the London Home Builders' Association, which feeds up through the national Canadian Home Builders' Association. They have been absolutely instrumental in championing policies that will ultimately lead to more homes being built. Along the way, what they have said is that we have to make sure we have the labour needed to build those homes. That is why immigration can serve this need and why we see in the main estimates tonight that there are pathways to ensuring that particular outcome.

Finally, before I ask questions of the minister, to ensure public confidence in the immigration system, I am glad to see the estimates fund integrity measures such as expanded biometric collection to help with identity verification. Of course, that is important to help counter fraud. We do have this focus in the main estimates. It is about fairness. This last point does relate to fairness. It is about ensuring that diversity, yes, is at the core of our country. The immigration system allows for that in spades.

Also, I return again to the point I began with about the economy. The economy is challenged around the world. We see headwinds not of our own making. What the United States is doing with respect to tariffs is completely unacceptable. I am glad to see in this House, and I hope it continues, that there is a spirit of unity, which I heard members speak of in and outside the House, in fact.

We see provincial premiers collaborating with the federal government in ways that, frankly, we have not seen in many years. We hear municipal governments wanting to work with the federal government. We need to continue to work in that vein, but the immigration system can be a fundamental part of that in making sure there is economic success, particularly by ensuring that labour market needs are met. That has always been the purpose of the immigration system. It needs to continue, as I said, in that kind of way.

To the minister, first of all, can she talk about labour market needs and in particular how the changes in the temporary resident numbers and the temporary foreign worker numbers help to focus on this issue of labour market needs?

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Chair, let me first of all thank the member for his hard work for his constituents in London Centre. We had the privilege of attending his constituency, I think two years ago, and we saw first-hand the diversity in the population he represents. I am very much looking forward to working with him as a parliamentary secretary.

Going back to the labour gap demands in the country, we in the IRCC, with staff and officials, are working extremely hard to ensure that we create programs that will fit the needs of the Canadian population. In particular, the member talked about all the stats with the medical people, the doctors, nurses and medical personnel, who are coming. We are very proud of that.

I am also proud of the provinces and the communities within the provinces that have rallied for the last number of years not only to attract the medical personnel they need but also to retain them, to make them feel that they are home and to settle them and their family members. I am grateful for all the work they have done. I say that with pride and also humility, because I know how much work that takes on the ground.

To all the provinces, municipalities, settlement service partners and, really, the communities and residents of each community, I say thanks very much. Canada really appreciates all they are doing to attract and also retain people who are coming, people who are there to have a good life for themselves and to serve Canadians, whether they are health care providers or people who work in the construction industry.

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, London Centre, ON]

Mr. Chair, I also want to ask about Bill C-2. The government recently introduced the bill. It focuses on a number of areas, but it is in many ways a bill that strengthens our immigration system.

Can the minister focus on particular aspects of Bill C-2 that she thinks really stand out for ensuring the integrity of the immigration system?

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

Mr. Chair, Bill C-2 is critical for ensuring the integrity of our immigration and asylum system. We want to make sure that people around the globe know we welcome talent and welcome people to come visit, but when their time expires, we want them to go back home. If someone is a legitimate asylum seeker, we are here to protect them, but our borders are not a shortcut for people claiming asylum.

These measures ensure that those who need protection most have access to it. I invite all members in the House to help us and support this bill.

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, London Centre, ON]

Mr. Chair, I know the minister brings a great deal of experience to this role, including as minister responsible for immigration in the province of Nova Scotia. Could she speak about the importance of the provincial nominee program, her experience with it and her vision for it going forward?

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

Mr. Chair, I have already spoken, in my very short few weeks as a federal minister, with the provincial and territorial ministers responsible for immigration. The provincial nominee program is key to a lot of provinces because it gives them the opportunity to make decisions as to where they believe they have labour gap needs. We are here, as a federal department, to work with provinces and territories to help them ensure they can meet those needs.

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, London Centre, ON]

Mr. Chair, Canada is a bilingual country and I am very proud of that. I wonder if the minister could say a few words about immigration and francophone communities.

What is her vision for the future with regard to this issue?

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

Mr. Chair, I am passionate about francophone immigration. When I was the minister of immigration and responsible for Acadian and francophone affairs in Nova Scotia, I worked very hard to increase the number of francophones in Nova Scotia.

I am very proud that Canada has exceeded the targets it set for itself. We have a plan here. We have set a target of 12% francophone immigration outside Quebec by 2029.

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Chair, I am going to split my time three ways.

Does the minister know what the average time is for vetting each person admitted to Canada for security risks?

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Chair, vetting security risk is something—

[The Assistant Deputy Chair, Conservative, John Nater]

The hon. member.

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Chair, what is the average time spent vetting each immigrant who comes here for security risks?

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

Mr. Chair, we have service standards. From my briefings, in the very short time that I have been a minister, I understand we are actually meeting and exceeding those standards.

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Chair, can the minister tell anybody in this House about any part of the process of vetting immigrants for security risks in Canada?

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

Mr. Chair, we actually spoke about that and it is in the estimates. We have biometrics that—

[The Assistant Deputy Chair, Conservative, John Nater]

The hon. member.

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Chair, the government committed to letting hundreds of thousands of immigrants into Canada. How many of these people will be allowed to come here without comprehensive vetting and interviews?

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

Mr. Chair, all immigrants who come here, whether they are international students or temporary foreign workers, are screened by biometrics. Comprehensive screening is done.

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Chair, is the minister confident that the amount of time spent on vetting immigrants before they come to Canada, for security risk, is sufficient to keep Canadians safe, yes or no?

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

Mr. Chair, we work very hard at IRCC with our partners around the globe to ensure that—

[The Assistant Deputy Chair, Conservative, John Nater]

The hon. member.