Industry committee  Yes. Thank you for the question. Indeed, I would refer to the temporary to permanent immigration stream, which was particularly useful during the border closures last year in being able to retain those temporary workers, particularly in essential occupations, and for students and graduates in being able to apply for permanent residence and remain in Canada.

Industry committee  Thank you for the question. LMIAs fall within the purview of ESDC, Employment and Social Development Canada. What I can say is that there have been facilitative measures arranged within the TFWP as it specifically pertains to Quebec. These were announced in August 2021. They include raising the cap on the low-wage TFWs a Quebec employer may hire and expanding the simplified process for accessing a labour market impact assessment to national occupation classification C, which is akin to what's already in place for classification levels A and B.

Industry committee  Thank you for the question. I don't have a specific answer with respect to whether or not the rural and northern immigration pilot will become permanent. What I can say is that, given the time it started, we've been slowly able to ramp up admissions and incorporate new regions into the pilot itself.

Industry committee  Again, I can say, going back to when the pilot was launched—in other words, up to and during the COVID-19 pandemic, and despite those challenges—we've already had 755 admissions since its launch. That may not seem like a lot, but given that this is a pilot program and given the time it started, these are very encouraging signals.

Industry committee  With respect to the platform modernization initiative, I don't have specific knowledge. However, I can say that there has been quite a lot of development in being able to scope out the requirements and what the department would need or want to have operationalized through the new platform.

Industry committee  In terms of how we can assist, the department is trying to make strides in how it engages and interacts with clients by providing as much information as possible. Some of what we're trying to do involves having better tools and resources on our websites and trying to have more contact with and hear from SMEs and other stakeholders to get a sense of what their needs are.

Industry committee  Chair, if it's okay with you, may I deliver the opening remarks for IRCC?

Industry committee  Thank you, Chair. Thank you for having me, committee members. I'd like to begin by acknowledging that I'm joining you from the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe people. I'm pleased to provide an overview of the immigration system and its role in addressing labour and skills shortages.

Finance committee  Thank you for the question. Offhand, I don't believe it is, but we'll have to look into that and perhaps get back to the committee.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Thank you for the question. Currently, there are no specific occupations in mind.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  First, the economic goal upon which the invitation is conducted will be in the instruction itself. With respect to process, this is something that is currently being developed. Having said that, just for example, features such as consultation with employer groups and other stakeholders with awareness of labour market information would be a likely reference, as well as the objectives within the immigration act itself.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  In this case, I can speak to the application management within the express entry system. Here there is the ability to pause the intake of applications, which has been done for federal programs since September 2021. This not only allows the department to catch up on the inventories of federal economic applications, but, in doing so, also allows the department to focus more broadly on the treatment of economic class applications writ large.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  The department is quite aware and is concerned with the service standards within the express entry program. That's why intake was paused in September of 2021 and is expected to resume in July of 2022. In so doing, there's a recognition.... These amendments themselves, I should add, do not impact treatment of applications or existing or future processing times.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Express entry already plays a large role in helping to increase francophone immigration to official language minority communities outside of Quebec. For example, the changes themselves would permit the minister to focus on all French-speaking candidates within the express entry pool.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Of course, resource-wise, funding for the express entry program is provided through the multi-year immigration levels plan. With respect to returning to service standards, yes, the intent for those who apply, following the resumption of the invitation rounds, is to be able to have their application, once a full application is received, treated within service standards for issuance of a permanent residence visa.