Citizenship and Immigration committee  I think it's important to go back and recognize what a DLI is or how the relationship of the designated learning institutions comes about and how it's a joint provincial and federal program. It's part of the international student program. There is a memorandum of understanding that's in place between the Ministry of Colleges and Universities and the IRCC to jointly administer the ISP.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  No. We support and work with private career colleges under the Private Career Colleges Act. Under that act, I do not believe there to be any specific legislation around the employment status or role of an individual who owns a private career college.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  To me personally, no. We do have a role and inspectors who exist within our ministry to support and investigate if there were concerns raised by a student. We do have inspectors who are responsible for conducting on-site inspections of private designated learning institutes. They visit campus locations.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Not with me directly, no.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  No, CBSA has not been in touch with me or my office.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I would have to take that back to see whether there has been any contact within other areas of the ministry.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  To become a registered private career college in Ontario, there is an extensive process the college goes through. We understand information about their ownership structure and financial background. It is quite a process to become a registered private career college in Ontario. I believe that, through this process, potential fraudulent actors could be weeded out.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  It is my understanding that the letter was sent in December 2022. I would have to follow up on the letter itself.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  It's my understanding that the letter sent last December from Ontario's minister was to point out the need for the federal government to protect prospective international students and reduce the backlog on visa wait times. It's out understanding that the backlog on visa wait times has led talented students to choose other countries over coming to Canada to pursue their education, and it can leave some of those wanting to come to Canada or Ontario particularly vulnerable to these bad actors.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  That could be one potential outcome.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Thank you, Madam Chair. Hello, my name is Anna Boyden. I'm the assistant deputy minister responsible for the advanced education learner supports division at Ontario's Ministry of Colleges and Universities. I'm here today as a representative of the ministry. I'd like to begin by thanking the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration for the invitation to appear today to address this important matter.