Citizenship and Immigration committee  Okay.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Madam Chair, the probation at times was a way of getting a sign of confidence—I wouldn't want to use the term “guarantee”—in the sponsor's ability to support the newcomer in the Canadian fold. That was originally the intent, but the spousal program has undergone many changes, and there is an upfront requirement that allows us to assess the applications differently now.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Madam Chair, we pay a lot of attention to marriages of convenience. That is the term we use in our lingo for marriage fraud. Let me just mention this. Concerning the risk factors or any specific risk parameters that will point towards a possible marriage fraud or marriage of convenience, our local officers abroad as well as over here use that particular risk lens to have an in-person interview to assess that, and they also assess further documentary proof.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  The department doesn't keep records, as such, for the category of those with disabilities who have applied to sponsor someone. I can assure the member that proper attention is paid to all of the other parameters. This is not something we are looking at, in any way, shape or form, to penalize anyone or to have any of those conversations based on how or whether their disability would be a disadvantage for any of the processes.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Madam Chair, we will get that information back to the committee.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Madam Chair, I'll start by saying that if you are applying at the very beginning for permanent residency, there are certain specific requirements, but they're not specific to the funding—

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Madam Chair, this specific aspect is very much related to the role that CBSA plays, in terms of the moratorium, and our department has no specific information that we can share at this point.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Madam Chair, in that context I must say that our department has started to look into more client-centric approaches. We have started to look at situations where there is some information missing. Instead of sending the file back for completion, we can get that information either by contacting the applicant by phone or by other means and then fulfilling those requirements in-house.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Madam Chair, let me start by saying that recently we have seen a situation developing in Cuba that prompted us and our partners at Global Affairs Canada not to have a footprint in Havana. There where some health-related issues that we had to react to for the safety and security of Canadians abroad.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I'm sorry. I could not really hear that.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I'll very briefly describe the temporary resident and visitor visa process. When a person applies, they are supposed to submit all of the supporting documents. These include their ability to demonstrate that they are capable financially, that they have a valid reason to travel, and that they have solid roots to assure us that this will be a temporary visit and that this is their intent.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I don't have that data on hand, but we can provide it to you later.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Service Canada is a delivery arm, as is Global Affairs Canada, in terms of passport services. The passport funding still resides with IRCC. The policies that decide how the passport program will run, the passport program, are still IRCC responsibilities.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I will defer to my colleague on that.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Most of the decisions are taken based on the value or the vulnerability of the people who are applying for that. There is a decision-making process that seeks out what the risks and vulnerabilities are. Accordingly, we make a decision. There is a provision with the minister if he wants to have his privileges invoked.