Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship  Mr. Speaker, let us begin to count the ways we are cleaning up the big fat mess left by the Conservatives in the area of immigration. We have let in more than 33,000 Syrian refugees. We have reinstated the principle that a Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian. We have reinstated

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship  Mr. Speaker, I definitely understand that this is an issue, which is why my staff have spoken to the mayor of Vegreville and I have offered to meet with the member to discuss these issues. However, the fact of the matter is that our fundamental responsibility is to improve levels

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship  Mr. Speaker, that number has nothing to do with our plans. Most important are events in the region, and our government has committed $1.6 billion to humanitarian capacity-building and military efforts in the region. But we will certainly honour our commitment, and my department i

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship  Mr. Speaker, we have certainly reached out to the mayor of Vegreville, through my staff. I have offered to have a meeting with the member opposite. However, the fact remains that this is a decision, driven by the need to produce lower processing times, better service and a growin

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship  Mr. Speaker, it is quite the contrary. In fact, all of the Liberals, and indeed all members of the House, voted positively for a motion to bring Yazidi and other victims of Daesh here within 120 days. Therefore, we have all agreed to that. My department is working very hard to de

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship  Mr. Speaker, that number is wrong, and the hon. member knows it is wrong because she received a briefing from my department on our plans two days ago. Therefore, she knows very well that we are working on a plan, and she should know by now that to go public with this in a way tha

Points of Order  Mr. Speaker, yesterday I said that the number was not true, and I repeat the fact today that the number is not true.

Questions on the Order Paper  Mr. Speaker, insofar as Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, IRCC, is concerned, visas are the primary tool in managing Canada’s border. The requirement that foreign nationals first obtain a temporary resident visa to visit Canada is the norm, not the exception. Ukraine

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship  Mr. Speaker, I am particularly grateful to my colleague for her question today, because it gives me the opportunity to announce the very good news that it is today that we are lifting the Mexico visa. This is good news for the Canadian tourist industry. It will create many jobs

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship  Why do I not have a job? I think I do have job. Mr. Speaker, as I just said, there are many benefits coming from this accord. As in any undertaking, there are risks. We are working very carefully and strongly with the Government of Mexico to manage those risks in a responsible w

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship  Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for her question and also for her good work in this area. When one is welcoming refugees to Canada, there is nothing more important than to teach them English or French, especially in the case of Syrian refugees, who typically speak not a wo

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to say that yesterday, we reduced the processing times for spouses and their families from two years to one year. A special thanks to the young officials whose tiger team led to a radical improvement in the processing guidelines for our new system, and

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship  Mr. Speaker, in terms of funding, the hon. member should know that just recently, last month, we initiated $18.5 million of additional funding, half of which is going to language training and half of which is going to settlement areas. The member should also know that this is a

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship  Mr. Speaker, we have been working with the provinces to plan this since day one, and the settlement agencies and many Canadians. As I have said, this is a long-term investment. Somewhat less than half of the refugees currently have full-time employment, but 90% of the governmen

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship  Mr. Speaker, the provinces have been on side from day one. As has been the case with past waves of refugees, it is in the early days an act of kindness by Canadians but over the long run it is a hugely positively investment. These refugees integrate into the labour force. Their c