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 (IRCC) 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 here.

The most recent studies include Persons with Temporary Status and Undocumented Individuals and the Government's Response to the Final Report of the Special Committee on Afghanistan. CIMM also  concluded a study on Conditions Faced by Asylum Seekers in 2023.

Reports

A list of reports the committee has presented in the 44th Parliament can be found here. Most recently, Report 18 - In Demand Yet Unprocessed: Endemic Immigration Backlogs.

Appearance Background

CIMM adopted a motion to invite the Minister of IRC as well as IRCC and Global Affairs Canada officials for two hours to provide an update on the temporary immigration measures initiated in response to the ongoing conflicts in Sudan and Gaza.

The motion was adopted by the Committee on February 12, 2024:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee invite as soon as possible the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and departmental officials and Global Affairs Canada officials to appear before the committee as soon as possible for two hours and have officials appear for an additional hour following the Minister’s appearance to update the committee on the temporary immigration measures initiated in response to the ongoing conflicts in Sudan and Gaza.

On March 20, 2024, the Minister will deliver a five-minute opening statement, followed by rounds of questioning from committee members. Officials may be asked to remain for a third hour.

The following officials are recommended to support the Minister:

• Harpreet S. Kochhar, Deputy Minister
• Jennifer MacIntyre, Assistant Deputy Minister, International Affairs & Crisis Response

Environmental Scan

Key departmental issues relevant to this appearance include:

• Family reunification / Definition of extended family
• Processing of applications for people in the two regions
• Collaboration with other departments and security partners
• Settlement services
• Refugee support

It is anticipated that questions will focus on the above issues, with likely emphases on:

• The family reunification of persons in exceptional circumstances, such as those orphaned by conflict.
• Details on the execution of the announced special immigration measures for the respective regions.
• Cases of persons “falling through the cracks” of the announced measures given the complexity and volatility of the conflicts in the respective regions.

Committee Membership

Sukh Dhaliwal (Surrey-Newton, BC)
Chair of CIMM

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

Salma Zahid (Scarborough Centre, ON)

Arielle Kayabaga (London West, ON)
Member of LANG

Jenny Kwan (Vancouver East, BC)
Caucus Chair; Long-standing Critic for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship; Critic for Housing

Larry Maguire (Brandon-Souris, MB)

Brad Redekopp (Saskatoon West, SK)

Vice-Chair of CIMM; Associate Shadow Minister for Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship

Shafqat Ali (Brampton Centre, ON)

Fayçal El-Khoury (Laval—Les Îles, QC)
Member of the panel of chairs for the legislative committees

Tom Kmiec (Calgary Shepard, AB)
Shadow Minister for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship; Member of CACN

Paul Chiang (Markham-Unionville, ON)
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Greg McLean (Calgary Centre, AB)

A list of relevant departmental correspondence on this topic can be found here.

Conservative Party Of Canada

CIMM Members

Tom Kmiec
(Calgary Shepard, AB)
Shadow Minister for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Topics of Interest

• Fiscal matters and the economy
• Equalization
• Foreign affairs and international development
• Rare diseases

Larry Maguire
(Brandon-Souris, MB)

Greg McLean
(Calgary Centre, AB)

Brad Redekopp
(Saskatoon West, SK)
Deputy Shadow Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Other Active Members

Pierre Paul-Hus
(Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC)
Québec Lieutenant; Former Shadow Cabinet Minister for Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

Relevant Party Issues

The Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) has been vocal in support of Israel in its conflict with Hamas. Its interventions on the situation in Gaza have tended to demand the government stand unequivocally with Israel. The party has expressed support for humanitarian measures to help Palestinians impacted by the conflict, but has not focused on immigration measures.

On Sudan, the CPC have not been vocal with respect to immigration measures.

Recent Party Activity

• October 16 – Debates: Voiced support for a humanitarian pathway for Gaza and called for the evacuation of foreign nationals (Poilievre).
• October 16 – Debates: Argued Hamas has historically discouraged the thorough implementation of humanitarian interventions for Gaza for political reasons (Genuis).
• September 27 – Petitions: Heartily endorsed a petition “on behalf of the Sudanese community in Calgary” calling on the government to expedite immigration applications for residents of Sudan (McLean).

New Democratic Party

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
• International Students Impacted by Fraud

Other Active Members

Alexandre Boulerice (Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie, QB)
Deputy Leader; Critic for Labour; Deputy Critic for Climate Change, Official Languages

Randall Garrison
(Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke, BC)
Critic for Justice, 2SLGBTQI+ Rights; Deputy Critic for National Defence

Relevant Party Issues

The New Democratic Party (NDP) have frequently called upon the government to condemn Israeli actions in Gaza. Of all the opposition parties, the NDP have been the most vocal in their support for immigration measures for the people of Gaza.

On Sudan, the NDP have pointed to the country’s populace as one in need of urgent assistance.

Recent Party Activity

• February 7 – Statements by Members: Pointed to the plight of women and girls in conflict zones including Sudan and Gaza, and advocated for measures to help these persons (McPherson).
• January 10 – Correspondence: Sent an open letter to the Minister alleging the execution of special immigration measures for Gaza has been flawed and calling for the cap on family reunification applications to be lifted (Kwan).
• December 5 – CIMM: Called for special immigration measures for Gaza and for the definition of immediate family to be expanded (Kwan).
• December 4 – CTV News: Advocated through the media for special immigration measures to be speedily developed for Gaza (Kwan).
• October 24 – Oral Questions: Asked the government to expedite the processing of those in Gaza who had applied for family reunification before the war, and that the visas of those already in Canada be extended (Kwan).
• June 13 – Debates: Argued in favour of accepting more LGBTQ refugees from several conflict zones, including Sudan (Boulerice).
• May 3 – Correspondence: Wrote to the Minister advocating that special immigration measures be implemented to reunite Sudanese people impacted by the conflict with their families in Canada (Kwan).

Bloc Québécois

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

Christine Normandin(Saint-Jean, QC)
Former Critic for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship; BQ Deputy House Leader

Yves-François Blanchet
(Beloil-Chambly, QC)
BQ Party Leader

Relevant Party Issues

The Bloc Québécois (BQ) has regularly intervened in the House of Commons on the situation in Gaza. Their principal concerns are the establishment of a humanitarian corridor, the declaration of a humanitarian ceasefire, and hate crime incidents inspired by the war in Gaza. They have not been vocal on immigration matters related to the conflict.

On Sudan, the party has not recently been vocal, but have called for immigration measures in the past.

Recent Party Activity

• April 27: Oral Questions: Called on the government to cease asylum claimant deportations to Sudan on compassionate grounds (Brunelle-Duceppe).
• April 25 – Debates: Expressed support for expediting immigration applications for Sudanese nationals but remarked skeptically upon the government’s capacity to execute on this measure (Brunelle-Duceppe).

Liberal Party of Canada

Party Position

The Liberal Party of Canada (LPC) outlines their immigration commitments in their 2021 Platform.

Recent Party Activity

• February 9 – Statements by Members: Argued Canada has a moral obligation to respond to the conflict in Sudan, specifically referencing refugees and proposing a special envoy be appointed (Arya).
• December 5 – CIMM: Asked if the Minister of IRC will expand the definition of immediate family to facilitate helping more Palestinians in Gaza to reach Canada (Zahid).

CIMM Members

Sukh Dhaliwal
(Surrey-Newton, BC)
Chair of CIMM

Topics of Interest

• International Students
• Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship
• Family Reunification
• Settlement and Integration

Shafqat Ali
(Brampton Centre, ON)

Salma Zahid
(Scarborough Centre, ON)

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

Paul Chiang
(Markham-Unionville, ON)
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship