Citizenship and Immigration committee  I don't have in front of me the U.K. processing numbers, I can get them for you, but in the case of Canada, the BNO designation is not relevant, actually, in whether an application is processed or not processed. It's based on other criteria, including permanent residency or citizenship in Canada.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Sure, I'm happy to answer the question. In a general sense, it is very difficult, wherever you are, to access a pension early. By design, pensions are made to last until you're 65 and you retire. To access a pension early, it's pretty difficult. It's different but similar. In Canada, you have to go through a process with the Canada Revenue Agency, as I understand it.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I apologize. I'm not sure I understand the question. Is it the same...?

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Thank you so much. If I understand the question about unlocking pensions for people departing Hong Kong, we've processed more than 80% of the applications to Canada. I think your question is on the ones we haven't been able to. The inability to process those applications for permanent departure would be caused by various factors that include insufficient documentation, unmatched or missing signature, or another error.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  We do not decline to process an application for reasons of the BNO visa or passport. That is not one of the reasons. The issue is really whether or not an individual has the right to permanently reside in Canada or elsewhere. Permanent residency evidence or citizenship is what they are able to use in support of their application for the early withdrawal of their MPF pension fund.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  A BNO visa or passport does not convey the right, in Canada, to permanently reside in Canada. That's a decision of the Canadian government, actually, so it is, therefore, not used to support an application for early withdrawal of MPF pension funds. There are a number of criteria that are acceptable, which....

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Good afternoon. Thank you so much, Mr. Chair and members of the committee. I'm greatly honoured to be here today. It's good to see you. My name is Maryscott Greenwood. I serve as the global head of government relations at Manulife. It's an honour to appear before this parliamentary committee.