Citizenship and Immigration committee  At the beginning of the crisis, Canada was very successful with Sudan nationals. Last year, we were one of the leaders among our allies. More than 3,000 Sudanese refugees came to Canada. We co-operated with the International Organization for Migration in Port Sudan, where we processed applications from more than 400 refugees.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Minister, you're intervening on behalf of a criminal who has been convicted in Canada, but you won't intervene to make the process better for Sudanese or Gazan refugees. This is a choice you are making. Canadians and people who are waiting to get into Canada want to understand why you're making these choices. Can you please explain to Parliament, to Canadians and to this committee why you've allocated resources to keeping criminals in Canada rather than to getting refugees into Canada?

Citizenship and Immigration committee  In keeping with our long-standing tradition, Canada is also welcoming people from Sudan as government-assisted and privately sponsored refugees. Almost one thousand refugees were approved to come to Canada in the past year. We’re working with our partners to expedite all arrivals to Canada under our special measures. We will continue to focus on keeping families together and bringing them to safety as quickly as we can.

Official Languages committee  At the same time, many university representatives who have appeared before this committee have told us that a francophone immigration policy wasn't compatible with the ceiling that the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, or IRCC, has announced for international students. Francophone universities are requesting a specific exemption from that policy. How can we help francophone universities that claim francophone immigration will suffer as a result of IRCC's decision?

Official Languages committee  I think we should take a holistic approach to our immigration policy because there are many aspects to it. There are economic immigration, temporary workers, refugees and, of course, international students. In minority francophone post-secondary education, foreign students very often represent additional funding for post-secondary educational institutions.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship  Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform the House that the group will be meeting over the coming week. That does not mean that there is no preparatory work being done. Obviously, a working group with ministers requires advance preparation, and that work is currently under way. I spoke to Minister Fréchette this morning.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship  Mr. Speaker, since 2017, Quebec has taken in over 50% of those seeking asylum in Canada, even though Quebec has 22% of the population. Let us also not forget that, for months, Canada's immigration minister denied something that was obvious. He denied that there was an imbalance.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship  Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois is confusing capacity and willingness to integrate newcomers. What I said very clearly to my Quebec counterpart was that we would work together to distribute asylum seekers across the country. Ontario and Quebec have an excessive burden in terms of the number of asylum seekers relative to their population.

Foreign Affairs  Women and children were burned alive in tents. They were told they were in a safe zone, in a refugee encampment, yet they were burned alive. What will it take for the Liberal government to send a message to Netanyahu that what has happened is inexcusable? What will it take for the government to take actions to prevent this genocide from happening?

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Why does this not apply to the 1.8 million refugees who were living in Sudan on April 15, 2023, but who have since been forced to flee from Sudan and take refuge in a neighbouring country?

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I'm going to start with some of the clear issues around Sudan. The program you've designed for Sudanese refugees to come to Canada allows for 3,250 applicants. I think this is the number of spaces. Delineate for us how 3,250 is the right number and how many you think it will actually be, because most of these people will have to bring their families as well.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  This is supplemented by another number—around 3,622—that includes protected persons such as government-assisted and privately sponsored refugees, for example.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I have not heard the number of people who have been able to cross through the Rafah border. Now we're seeing that people are literally burning in these refugee camps. What is our relationship to be able to get things moving on this border?

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I don't think, by that same brushstroke, we should presume that nothing's been done. During that same period, there have been 3,622 protected persons and resettled refugees of various categories, so it's not as if everyone was waiting for this program to get into place. It is very much an accompanying program for our response to Sudan. I just don't want to leave people with that impression.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  It has acted decisively within its ability to act on international aid, both for Sudan and Gaza. We have landed hundreds if not thousands of refugees from Sudan since the offence broke out. We continue to make sure that up to 7,000 people will be able to come here. This is about saving lives. It should not be a partisan activity.