Debates of May 28th, 2026

Department of Citizenship and Immigration—Main Estimates, 2026-27

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

Mr. Chair, I have answered the question a number of times. The member may not like the response, but I have already provided those answers.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Mr. Chair, the minister is responsible for the Immigration and Refugee Board. Who sets the refugee policy in Canada: Parliament, the minister or the IRB chairperson?

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Minister of Immigration]

Mr. Chair, I welcome my colleague across the way. I have not seen him since we were at the United Nations together. He knows that the IRB is an independent body.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Mr. Chair, perhaps the minister remembers that I asked her questions just about 45 minutes ago.

The IRB is independent, so does Parliament have no authority to set refugee policy in Canada? Is it all up to the independent IRB?

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

Mr. Chair, welcome to you.

The IRB is an independent body. It does set its rules according to the law of the land. We have a Constitution, and we have laws we also adhere to.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Mr. Chair, if a foreign national or a permanent resident is convicted of a serious crime, should they leave Canada?

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

Mr. Chair, all serious crimes should be dealt with by the courts, by the laws and by the board, and there are consequences that criminals face.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Mr. Chair, if Parliament says serious criminals must leave Canada, does the minister believe that the Immigration and Refugee Board should do the opposite and help them stay?

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

Mr. Chair, again, if the question relates to the IRB, it is an independent body, as I said. It does report to Parliament. There are laws in the country that it has to adhere to, and we expect it to do that.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Mr. Chair, I am confused. If Parliament has laws on refugee policy, and if the Immigration and Refugee Board does the opposite of what those laws say, is that a problem in the minister's mind?

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

Mr. Chair, if we find a person in Canada who has committed a crime, Canada Border Services Agency investigates that, and they could become inadmissible.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Mr. Chair, I am sure the minister is aware that the IRB chair just issued new guidelines to create new ways for serious criminals to delay deportation. Did the minister personally approve these new guidelines?

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

Mr. Chair, the IRB is an independent body. It has to adhere to Canadian law, and that is exactly what it is doing.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Mr. Chair, who appoints the IRB members?

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

Mr. Chair, again, if a person in Canada has committed a crime, they are investigated by the Canada Border Services Agency, and there are consequences.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Mr. Chair, the minister seems to be avoiding the question.

Who actually appoints the IRB members?

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

Mr. Chair, the IRB has a number of officers. They are appointed for certain terms, and it goes through an OIC process.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Mr. Chair, the minister is still confused. I know it is getting late. She is the one who appoints the IRB members, just for the minister's record.

Is the minister in support of the IRB's making up these new rules so convicted criminals can delay deportation even more?

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

Mr. Chair, I believe that was written in some article that was in fact corrected because it was not correct. The guidelines do not allow inadmissibility hearings to be delayed.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Mr. Chair, will the minister direct the IRB not to use these new guidelines to delay the removal of serious criminals?

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

Mr. Chair, the IRB has confirmed that it will use them only in very exceptional, limited circumstances. They are not used in cases.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Mr. Chair, it will use these rules, then? If a serious criminal stays in Canada because of these rules it will use from time to time, as the minister just said, will she take responsibility for this?

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

Mr. Chair, our government remains focused on removing criminals from the country.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Mr. Chair, the government will not tell the independent Immigration and Refugee Board what to do. I do not even know what to say about that.

Let us talk about exit tracking. Does the government know exactly when temporary residents leave the country?

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

Mr. Chair, that is a really good question. Under my watch, we have laid the foundation for the first exit tracking system in the country.