Mr. Speaker, Canada screens those entering the country for potential criminal activity and links to terrorist groups. We have designated the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as terrorist entities. That has made senior Iranian officials inadmissible to Canada.
Since November 2022, the IRCC has cancelled 234 visas for individuals who are inadmissible because of the Iranian regime designation. This number does not include applicants whose visa applications were refused from the outset.
The CBSA is going to continue to increase removals and has committed to hiring 1,000 additional CBSA officers to strengthen the agency's capacity and help protect the safety of Canadians.
The government is going to continue to use every tool available to protect Canadians and to ensure that those linked to human rights abuses and terrorism are held accountable.