Debates of May 28th, 2026

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

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Chair, will the minister offer biometric solutions and alternatives for this program?

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

Mr. Chair, as I said, the government made a commitment, and the commitment is being fulfilled. I have cited the numbers of who has already arrived and of the applications that have been processed.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Chair, the minister is having trouble answering questions, so let me try a different tack. Can the minister advise us on how many applications are in the backlog for the special immigration measure for Hong Kongers for stream A and B and for the special immigration measures for Ukraine and Sudan?

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

Mr. Chair, in terms of Hong Kong, I believe I already addressed that with another member, but a number of measures have been implemented for Hong Kong, both for permanent resident pathways and temporary resident measures.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Chair, I am getting a migraine. I am actually asking for the backlog numbers. Will the minister answer the question?

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

Mr. Chair, the numbers are being processed based on our levels plan.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Chair, it is no wonder the Conservatives are calling for that minister's resignation. She cannot answer one question in seven and a half minutes. Since the immigration levels plan has put all three of these groups under the H and C and other category quota, how long does the minister think it will take to process all these applications?

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

Mr. Chair, the member asked for a number for the Hong Kong PR pathways. We received 46,444 applications for people, and the total that have arrived is 13,160.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Mr. Chair, the minister said IRGC terrorists are not permitted to enter Canada, but they are here by the hundreds, and probably more. Will she at least talk with her minister colleagues and commit to removing every IRGC member currently terrorizing Persian Canadians?

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

Mr. Chair, as I said, IRGC officials are inadmissible. Yes, we do work with the Minister of Public Safety and with CBSA. They are investigating all these cases. They will be taking action as required.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Mr. Chair, why is the minister prioritizing IRGC terrorists over Persian Canadians?

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

Mr. Chair, we are certainly not.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Mr. Chair, Global News reported that Tahawwur Rana, who had been convicted in the U.S. of a terrorism offence, obtained Canadian citizenship in 2001. How did someone convicted of a terrorist offence obtain Canadian citizenship in the first place?

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

Mr. Chair, as I have been saying all along, if there are IRGC officials, they are not being admitted to Canada. There is a continuous ban that the government has taken. It is still in place.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Mr. Chair, why does it take years and multiple immigration ministers to attempt to revoke Mr. Rana's citizenship?

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

Mr. Chair, I will quote the numbers again. Members like numbers. There have been 17,800 applications reviewed for potential inadmissibility and 239 visas cancelled by IRCC, and there are 176 investigations ongoing with the CBSA.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Mr. Chair, if citizenship was obtained through alleged misrepresentation, why is verification not immediate?

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

Mr. Chair, if there has been misrepresentation, then there is a process and deportation is possible.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Mr. Chair, if people have gotten their citizenship through misrepresentation, deportation should be immediate.

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

Mr. Chair, as I said, there are consequences for people who do not leave, and CBSA, as the Minister of Public Safety said today, has deported 23,000 people.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Mr. Chair, what confidence should Persian Canadians have in your answers about IRGC members, when cases like this are still sitting unresolved?

[The Assistant Deputy Chair, Conservative, John Nater]

Again, questions go through the Chair.

The hon. minister.

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

Mr. Chair, we work with partners in public safety, the RCMP and the CBSA. We have reinforced them. We are hiring 1,000 additional staff. We brought in various measures. I think Canadians in the community can feel safe.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

Mr. Chair, how many of these cases came into the country and were flagged but did not have adequate security?

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

Mr. Chair, there are security processes that take place prior to people's coming into Canada, when they make application. There is ongoing security that happens at every stage of the process.