Debates of June 9th, 2025

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

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Chair, in 2022, the government invested $85 million to hire 500 officers and reduce processing times. In 2024, those times increased and the department laid off 3,300 officers.

Can the minister explain the logic behind all that? Is that what we should expect in the coming years?

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

Mr. Chair, I really appreciate these questions.

I must point out that I have only been minister for a few weeks. It is important for me to answer my colleague's questions. I understand these issues. They are important. I think the processing time is probably related to Ukraine and Afghanistan.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Chair, we will try again in committee.

I believe the Conservative member asked the minister earlier about processing times for asylum claims.

What is the government's target? I am told that the government wants to reduce processing times. By how much? Do they have a number in mind? What should the processing time be for an asylum claim in Canada?

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

Mr. Chair, I know there has been a 71% reduction in visitors who have—

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Chair, it is not complicated. I want a number. Are we talking about six months, a year, two years, three years, four years or two months? What is the government's target processing time for asylum claims? The government must have a target for how long it should take to process an asylum claim. What is the target?

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

Mr. Chair, we are working on reducing processing times. I have already met with representatives of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, who assured me that they are working very hard and efficiently.

I think that Bill C-2 will help a lot.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Chair, from what I understand, the government has no target processing time. Is that right?

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

Mr. Chair, as I said, I really appreciate my colleague's questions. They are important.

What I am saying is that we are working to reduce processing times—

[The Assistant Deputy Chair, Conservative, John Nater]

The hon. member for Lac-Saint-Jean.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Chair, if they are working to reduce processing times, that must mean they have a target. Without a target, reducing processing times is absolutely meaningless.

It is not complicated. It is a yes-or-no question: Is there a target? Reducing is not a target. Is there a target of six months, a year or two years for the time it takes to process an asylum claim?

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

Mr. Chair, as I understand it, the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada processes 85,000 claims a year.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Chair, I will drop that question.

Does the minister believe that asylum claims fall under federal jurisdiction? If so, does she believe that asylum seekers are being divided evenly throughout Canada?

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

Mr. Chair, I think that the member is talking about the Canada-Quebec accord. Is that right?

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Chair, asylum seekers fall exclusively under federal jurisdiction, pursuant to the international conventions that Canada has signed. No province has authority over asylum seekers.

Does the minister think asylum seekers are currently being distributed evenly throughout Canada? Does she not think that they are concentrated in certain provinces, such as Quebec and Ontario?

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

Mr. Chair, we understand and recognize the role that Quebec plays in welcoming asylum seekers. We have always supported Quebec.

The number of asylum seekers in Ontario and Quebec is very high. That is why we are working with the provinces to—

[The Assistant Deputy Chair, Conservative, John Nater]

The hon. member for Lac-Saint-Jean.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Chair, the minister just admitted that Quebec is doing more than its share and that its intake capacity has in fact been exceeded, yet she says she supports Quebec.

Quebec is asking for $500,000 to cover the social assistance cheques it sent to asylum seekers in 2024 alone. Asylum seekers are actually a federal responsibility, but the $500,000 is not included in the appropriations.

Why is that?

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

Mr. Chair, the federal government has paid the Government of Quebec $750 million in consideration of the challenges associated with temporary accommodation and asylum caused by irregular border crossings. We always work with the Province of Quebec—

[The Assistant Deputy Chair, Conservative, John Nater]

The hon. member for Lac-Saint-Jean.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Chair, I am talking about social assistance.

Quebec is asking for $500,000 for the social assistance it paid. This is not included in the appropriations. Will Quebec get that money?

Furthermore, I do not think Quebec received $750 million for asylum seekers. If we had, we would be very happy. I think the minister meant $750,000.

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

Mr. Chair, we remain committed to doing our part and working with Quebec to fulfill our national and international obligations towards people fleeing violence.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Chair, the minister says she is helping and supporting Quebec, but the Quebec government has spent $500,000 providing social assistance to asylum seekers. This is not included in the appropriations. When will the government reimburse Quebec for that social assistance?

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

Mr. Chair, yes, the Quebec government received $750 million, not $750,000, for temporary housing for asylum seekers.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

I understand now, Mr. Chair. It was $750 million. However, Quebec has not received anything in terms of social assistance. There is nothing in the estimates. Why is it not in the estimates?

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

Mr. Chair, since 2017, Quebec has received $590.8 million under the interim housing assistance program. That represents nearly 50% of all funding allocated under this program.