CIMM – Intelligence Dashboard – June 14, 2023
Committee & Appearance Overview
Committee Mandate
The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM) studies matters related to immigration, citizenship and federal multiculturalism policy.
The committee has oversight of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and the Immigration and Refugee Board
Recent Committee Business
Studies
A list of studies the committee has moved to undertake in the 44th Parliament can be found on the House of Commons website.
Reports
A list of reports the committee has presented in the 44th parliament can be found on the House of Commons website.
Appearance Background
In May 2023, several international students were faced with deportation from Canada after it was discovered that they had used fraudulent college admissions letters to obtain study permits. The international students claim to have been victims of “ghost consultants” in India and were unaware that the admission letters given to them were doctored. The students only became aware of the issue when they had finished their courses and applied for postgraduate work permits or permanent residence.
The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM) adopted a motion on June 7, 2023, to begin a study on the Exploitation Scheme Targeting Certain International Students. The committee has expressed a desire to quickly begin this study prior to summer adjournment.
The Minister will deliver a 5-minute opening statement, followed by rounds of questioning from committee members. The following officials will appear to support the Minister:
- Christiane Fox, Deputy Minister
- Michèle Kingsley, Assistant Deputy Minister, Operations
The Minister would lead the first hour of the meeting, supported by officials. Officials would remain for the second hour to continue addressing committee questions.
The Minister of Public Safety (PS) and officials from the Canadian Border Services Agency have also received an invitation to appear before committee. It is anticipated that they will appear on June 19, 2023.
Environmental Scan
During CIMM meetings, several members have raised concern for the issue of the Exploitation Scheme Targeting Certain International Students, namely, MP Redekopp (CPC), MP Kwan (NDP), MP Kmiec (CPC) and MP Dhaliwal (LPC). Some members have indicated that they are working directly with the Ministers of IRC and PS to address certain cases, and Ministerial Correspondence have been submitted.
The committee has also adopted a second motion to further their study on this issue. It is anticipated that this second study will only begin following the summer adjournment; however, there will be parallels between key concerns and lines of questioning. These include:
- How this situation was allowed to happen;
- Why fraudulent documents were not detected until years later when the students began to apply for permanent status;
- The significant harm experienced by students, including financial loss and distress;
- Measures necessary to help the students to have their deportation state inadmissibility on the basis of misrepresentation waived, and provide a pathway to permanent status, and
- The committee will also examine how to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future.
CIMM had also conducted a study on Immigration Consults in 2017. The final report of this study included 21 recommendations for the Government improve oversight of consultants.
Committee Membership
Salma Zahid (Scarborough Centre, ON)
Chair of CIMM
Brad Redekopp (Saskatoon West, SK)
Vice-Chair of CIMM; Associate Shadow Minister for Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe (Lac-Saint-Jean, QC)
Second Vice-Chair of CIMM; Vice-Chair of SDIR; Critic for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship and Human Rights
Shafqat Ali (Brampton Centre, ON)
Sukh Dhaliwal (Surrey-Newton, BC)
Chair of SAFG
Fayçal El-Khoury (Laval—Les Îles, QC)
Member of the panel of chairs for the legislative committees
Arielle Kayabaga (London West, ON)
Member of LANG
Tom Kmiec (Calgary Shepard, AB)
Shadow Minister for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship; Member of CACN
Jenny Kwan (Vancouver East, BC)
Caucus Chair; Long-standing Critic for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship; Critic for Housing
Marie-France Lalonde (Orléans, ON)
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Larry Macguire (Brandon-Souris, MB)
Hon. Michelle Rempel Garner (Calgary Nose Hill, AB)
Former Shadow Minister of IRCC
Two relevant Departmental Correspondence were received by MP Kwan, and MPs Redekopp and Kmiec.
Conservative Party of Canada
Party Position
The Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) have been vocal on the subject of the exploited international students, with the Leader of the Official Opposition devoting interventions to the subject in Question Period. The party’s position is that the students’ deportation orders should be stayed immediately.
Recent Party Activity
- June 6 – Oral Questions: Accused the government of incompetence over its handling of the defrauded international students and called for their deportation orders to be stayed (Poilievre).
- June 2 – Oral Questions: Alleged the government issued visas based on “fake college acceptance letters and then tried to punish the victims instead of the scammers,” and suggested that CIMM study the issue (Genuis).
- May 31 – CIMM: Moved a motion that international students who are victims of fraudulent admission letters deserve to be heard and their testimony is of critical importance to a future investigation by this committee, and therefore stays of deportation must be issued for the victims of this fraud until the committee can hear their testimony (Kmiec).
- May 31 – CIMM: Pointed to the urgency of resolving the defrauded student situation and moved a motion proposing similar study on the matter (Redekopp).
CIMM Members
Topics of Interest
- Fiscal matters and the economy
- Equalization
- Foreign affairs and international development
- Rare diseases
Tom Kmiec
(Calgary Shepard, AB)
Shadow Minister for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Brad Redekopp (Saskatoon West, SK)
Vice-Chair of CIMM; Associate Shadow Minister for Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship
Larry Macguire
(Brandon-Souris, MB)
Hon. Michelle Rempel Garner
(Calgary Nose Hill, AB),
Other Active Members
Pierre Paul-Hus
(Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC)
Shadow Minister for Public Services and Procurement
New Democratic Party
Party Position
The New Democratic Party (NDP) have raised the issue of the exploited international students in both the House of Commons and at committee. Their position has been that the students should have their deportation orders stayed and be granted a pathway to permanent residency in Canada. MP Kwan has persistently referenced “700” impacted students, and has communicated her concerns to the Minister.
Recent Party Activity
- June 7– Oral Questions: Raised concerns about international students defrauded by immigration consultants, asked that these students’ deportations be stayed and that they be granted a path to permanent residency (Singh).
- June 7 – Motion: Moved a motion that the House call on the government to immediately stay the deportation of all affected students, waive inadmissibility on the basis of misrepresentation and provide a pathway to permanent residency to the defrauded international students currently facing deportation. This motion was not agreed to unanimously and therefore was not adopted (Singh).
- May 29 – Oral Questions: Referred to a letter she sent to the Ministers of PS and IRC, and demanded that the defrauded students’ deportation orders be stayed and that they be granted a path to permanent residency (Kwan).
CIMM Member
Jenny Kwan
(Vancouver East, BC)
Caucus Chair; Long-standing Critic for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship; Critic for Housing
Topics of Interest
- Rights, safety and precariousness of Caregivers and other migrant workers
- Processing capacity and backlogs
- Extending the definition of family for reunification
Other Active Members
Alexandre Boulerice (Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie, QB)
Randall Garrison
(Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke, BC)
Bloc Québécois
Party Position
The Bloc Québécois (BQ) have not been vocal on the exploited international students, though it is likely the party will tie the issue to their broader position on IRCC’s alleged dysfunction.
Recent Party Activity
No recent interventions. MP Brunelle-Duceppe voted in favour of the study, but without expressing any particular interest.
CIMM Member
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe
(Lac-Saint-Jean)
Second Vice-Chair of CIMM; Critic for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Human Rights;
Topics of Interest
- Francophone immigration, including international students from French-speaking countries in Africa
- Immigration measures for Afghanistan
- Taking a stand against China in relation to the Uyghur genocide
- Quebec interests and protection of the French language
- Human rights conflicts
- Processing delays
- Family reunification
Other Active Members
Yves-François Blanchet
(Beloeil—Chambly, QB)
Leader of the BQ
Alain Therrien
(La Prairie, QB)
House Leader of BQ
Kristina Michaud
(Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QB)
Critic for Climate Change, Youth, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Liberal Party of Canada
Party Position
Based on a CIMM intervention from MP Dhaliwal, Liberal Party of Canada (LPC) MPs have met on the issue of the exploited international students and are actively working to find a solution, including through dialogue with the Minister.
Recent Party Activity
- June 1 – CIMM: Advised that the LPC caucus is aware of the issue of defrauded international students and is actively working to address it (Dhaliwal).
- May 29 – CIMM: Expressed his support of the defrauded students and suggested that government action was likely coming, argued that the number of impacted students was fewer than 700 (Dhaliwal).
Topics of Interest
- Health and safety protocols regarding COVID-19
- Gender equality
- Advocate for Muslim women
CIMM Members
Salma Zahid (Scarborough Centre, ON)
Chair of CIMM
Shafqat Ali (Brampton Centre, ON)
Sukh Dhaliwal (Surrey–Newton, BC)
Fayçal El-Khoury (Laval—Les Îles, QC)
Member of the panel of chairs for the legislative committees
Arielle Kayabaga (London West, ON)
Member of LANG
Marie-France Lalonde (Orléans, ON)
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship