CIMM - Parliamentary Context - Dec 2, 2020

CIMM Ministerial Appearance on Staffing Levels and Processing Capacity

Background and Logistics

The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM) invited Minister and officials to appear at committee on December 2, 2020 from 3:30pm to 5:30pm to discuss the following motion adopted as put forth by NDP MP Jenny Kwan:

“that the Committee invite the Minister of Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship and department officials for 2 hours to provide a briefing to committee members on the impact of the pandemic on Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship staffing levels and the ability to process all immigration and refugee streams locally and abroad.”

The appearance will take place via Zoom videoconference. The Minister will appear for the first hour to provide five-minute remarks and respond to questions, and will be accompanied by IRCC officials, who will stay for the second hour to continue with questions. No opening remarks are required for the second hour. As established by the Committee, rounds of questioning will proceed as follows:

• First round: CPC, LPC, BQ, and NDP (six minutes each)
• Second round: CPC (five minutes), LPC (5), BQ (2.5), NDP (2.5), CPC (5), LPC (5)

Environmental Analysis

With the recent appearances at the Special Committee on Canada-China Relations (CACN) on the situation in Hong Kong, CIMM appearance on Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates B, as well as the ongoing CIMM study on the impacts of the pandemic, lines of questioning for this appearance may be broader than staffing levels and processing capacity. There has also been an increase of government scrutiny. Recent interventions and the general interest of parliamentarians include:

All parties are currently vocal on the impact of the pandemic on all processes and streams of immigration, and critical of government processes and policies, with a particular focus on family reunification by all opposition parties. Recently, spousal sponsorship processing and dual intent have been front of mind as members have highlighted barriers faced by applicants.

The situation in China and Hong Kong has equally been at front of mind for all parties, including the safety of Canadians abroad. Parties have recently questioned the ability to achieve numbers outlined in the recently tabled 2021–2023 Multi-Year Levels Plan given recent restrictions in face of the pandemic.

• Top intervention topics for the Conservative Party of Canada have a strong interest in admissibility and security screening and the process for removals due to foreign intimidation. The party is active on border control and family reunification, with remarks made on pending applications predating the pandemic and the lack of transparency in the PGP lottery system. Members have recently focused their attention on the need for pathways to PR for low-skilled workers and refugees that have contributed to the economy, and have identified barriers to obtaining COPR authorization letters. The party recently asked whether IRCC would conduct a comprehensive review of international adoptions, as families abroad felt abandoned by their government.
• The Bloc Québécois top interests are protecting the French language and increasing requirements for newcomers, as well as interventions focused on asylum seekers otherwise referred to as guardian angels. Recently, interests have shifted to the limitations of new Hong Kong immigration measures, processing times and backlog, as well as the impact of unemployment rates on the processing of work permit applications and LMIAs. Concerns have also been raised on the dual intent directives.
• Interventions led by the New Democratic Party have recently focused on family reunification and levels. Members have repeatedly advocated for the creation of a special temporary residence visa for spousal sponsorship, similar to that of the Parents and Grandparents super visa. Recently, the timeliness of extended family applications has been front of mind, as well as the narrow definition of family. The party supports the notion of migrants receiving landed status on arrival, and is concerned that Canada is at risk of losing out on top talent from international students that cannot get the pathway to PR. As of late, the NDP spoke of Caregivers, namely time lost during the pandemic to meet work requirements and children aging out.
• Top intervention topics for the Liberal Party of Canada have been focused on the unique circumstances faced by immigration in light of the pandemic, continued operations for economic recovery, and transformation of services. Recently, members spoke of the difficulty of reaching targets for Francophone immigration and the unique difficulties encountered by Northern Ontario in face of immigration.