This was a Committee of the Whole examination of the immigration minister’s spending plans, where Conservative members used their questions to press the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship on asylum numbers, border screening, visa decisions, fraudulent immigration consultants, temporary foreign workers, and the removal of people with no legal status. The minister pointed to falling asylum claim numbers, cooperation with provinces to relocate refugees, enforcement actions including the removal of 23,000 people last year, and Bill C-12 as a measure to further reduce asylum claims. Liberal members also used some questions to highlight immigration’s economic benefits and summer jobs for youth.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .
248 statements
“Two days ago, we announced new immigration rules to keep Canadians safe.”
“Mr. Chair, as the member knows, two days ago, we held a press conference in which we put immigration measures in place to protect the safety of Canadians.”
Mr. Chair, as the member knows, two days ago, we held a press conference in which we put immigration measures in place to protect the safety of Canadians.
“We have taken the needed steps with our partners to respond to the Ebola outbreak and protect public health.”
“Mr. Chair, as I have said, we have taken the necessary steps to respond to the Ebola outbreak and protect public health in coordination with our partners, including the Public Health Agency of Canada, Canada Border Services Agency and Global Affairs—”
Mr. Chair, as I have said, we have taken the necessary steps to respond to the Ebola outbreak and protect public health in coordination with our partners, including the Public Health Agency of Canada, Canada Border Services Agency and Global Affairs—
“Canadians must always be hired first for jobs.”
“Mr. Chair, as we have said, and we have been very clear with Canadians and all employers, Canadians must always be first in line for jobs.”
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See full analysisMr. Chair, as we have said, and we have been very clear with Canadians and all employers, Canadians must always be first in line for jobs.
“We have strict rules for employers who want to hire foreign workers. Our government made these rules even tighter so hiring them is only a last resort.”
“Mr. Chair, we have very strict rules for employers looking to hire temporary foreign workers. It was this government that tightened the rules as well to ensure that it is a last resort.”
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See full analysisMr. Chair, we have very strict rules for employers looking to hire temporary foreign workers. It was this government that tightened the rules as well to ensure that it is a last resort.
“We hear people's concerns about immigration and are working to manage it responsibly. I have met with the provinces and territories five times so far to work on this.”
“Mr. Chair, we share Canadians’ concern, and we are working to ensure that we manage migration responsibly, because that is what Canadians expect. I have worked very strongly with all provinces and territories. In fact, so far we have held five meetings together.”
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See full analysisMr. Chair, we share Canadians’ concern, and we are working to ensure that we manage migration responsibly, because that is what Canadians expect. I have worked very strongly with all provinces and territories. In fact, so far we have held five meetings together.
“I was a provincial immigration minister for eight years. Immigration is a shared job between federal and provincial governments, and I will keep working with the provinces and territories.”
“Mr. Chair, it is a wonderful question, because I was a provincial minister of immigration for eight years. Immigration is a shared responsibility between the two levels of government, and in my job, I will continue to work with the provinces and territories accordingly.”
Mr. Chair, it is a wonderful question, because I was a provincial minister of immigration for eight years. Immigration is a shared responsibility between the two levels of government, and in my job, I will continue to work with the provinces and territories accordingly.
“I work closely with the provinces, territories, and their immigration ministers, and I have a great relationship with them.”
“Mr. Chair, as I said, I have worked very closely with all provinces, territories and ministers responsible for immigration in all those jurisdictions, and I have excellent relationships with them.”
Mr. Chair, as I said, I have worked very closely with all provinces, territories and ministers responsible for immigration in all those jurisdictions, and I have excellent relationships with them.
“I want to correct the facts. In my first year as minister, asylum claims dropped by 59 percent, temporary foreign worker permits dropped by 75 percent, and student visas are down too.”
“Mr. Chair, let me just set the record straight. In my first year as minister, we had a 59% reduction in asylum claims in early 2026 compared to 2024, temporary foreign work permits are down 75% in 2026 compared to 2024, and new student visas—”
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See full analysisA repeated line
“Let me set the record straight.”
Said 3 times by 2 members since May 28.
Every time it was saidMr. Chair, let me just set the record straight. In my first year as minister, we had a 59% reduction in asylum claims in early 2026 compared to 2024, temporary foreign work permits are down 75% in 2026 compared to 2024, and new student visas—
“The immigration department does not allow bad behaviour. We released the report ourselves so Canadians can see it.”
“Mr. Chair, IRCC does not tolerate at all any misconduct. The report was proactively published. It is very transparent for all Canadians to see.”
Mr. Chair, IRCC does not tolerate at all any misconduct. The report was proactively published. It is very transparent for all Canadians to see.
“We act quickly when workers break the rules. We have fired some people for it.”
“Mr. Chair, we have a proactive response to all misconduct, and action is appropriately managed. There have been some who have been fired.”
Mr. Chair, we have a proactive response to all misconduct, and action is appropriately managed. There have been some who have been fired.
“The Auditor General's report confirmed that many actions taken by the immigration department worked very well.”
“Mr. Chair, in fact we spent standing committee meetings on the Auditor General’s report, which actually confirmed that a number of the actions that the IRCC department has taken were very effective.”
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See full analysisMr. Chair, in fact we spent standing committee meetings on the Auditor General’s report, which actually confirmed that a number of the actions that the IRCC department has taken were very effective.
“The Auditor General found that ending the fast-track student visa program was the right choice. Ending it stopped a lot of bad behavior.”
“Mr. Chair, the Auditor General found that the cancellation of the student direct stream in 2024 was the right path to take. That has curbed all kinds of misconduct.”
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See full analysisMr. Chair, the Auditor General found that the cancellation of the student direct stream in 2024 was the right path to take. That has curbed all kinds of misconduct.
“We made stricter rules and added penalties for all our consultants.”
“Mr. Chair, let me go back to the member’s other question for a moment. We have tightened all kinds of rules and restrictions and have made penalties for all our consultants.”
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See full analysisMr. Chair, let me go back to the member’s other question for a moment. We have tightened all kinds of rules and restrictions and have made penalties for all our consultants.
“Members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard are banned from coming to Canada. That ban is still in place.”
“Mr. Chair, as we have said, IRGC officials are inadmissible to Canada. The government has put a ban on them, and that ban continues to be in place.”
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See full analysisMr. Chair, as we have said, IRGC officials are inadmissible to Canada. The government has put a ban on them, and that ban continues to be in place.
“Canada has cancelled 239 visas and border officers have carried out 176 investigations.”
“Mr. Chair, there have been 239 visas cancelled by IRCC and 176 investigations by the CBSA.”
Mr. Chair, there have been 239 visas cancelled by IRCC and 176 investigations by the CBSA.
“Members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are not allowed into Canada. Our government banned them, and that ban is still in place.”
“Mr. Chair, IRGC officials, as we have said, are inadmissible to Canada. It was the Liberal government that put that ban in place, and it continues to be there.”
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See full analysisMr. Chair, IRGC officials, as we have said, are inadmissible to Canada. It was the Liberal government that put that ban in place, and it continues to be there.
“Iran's Revolutionary Guard officials are banned from Canada. Border officers work hard to kick them out, and we are giving police and border officers more money to do this.”
“Mr. Chair, I am going to say it one more time: IRGC officials are inadmissible to Canada. There is a ban in place. CBSA works forcefully to remove them, and we are investing in our policing and our officers to do exactly that.”
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See full analysisMr. Chair, I am going to say it one more time: IRGC officials are inadmissible to Canada. There is a ban in place. CBSA works forcefully to remove them, and we are investing in our policing and our officers to do exactly that.
“The Conservatives disagree, but our bill protects the value of Canadian citizenship.”
“Mr. Chair, I think the Conservatives have a real problem with this. I just want to say that the government has acted to protect the value of citizenship by passing this piece of legislation and ensuring that people value our citizenship and our Canadian—”
Mr. Chair, I think the Conservatives have a real problem with this. I just want to say that the government has acted to protect the value of citizenship by passing this piece of legislation and ensuring that people value our citizenship and our Canadian—
“Our bill makes sure that people cannot pass down Canadian citizenship to children born outside Canada forever. It sets clear, controlled rules for who can inherit citizenship.”
“Mr. Chair, again, what we did in this piece of legislation was ensure that citizenship by descent cannot be passed on indefinitely. We have provided clarity, we have provided structure, and we have provided control to citizenship by descent.”
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See full analysisMr. Chair, again, what we did in this piece of legislation was ensure that citizenship by descent cannot be passed on indefinitely. We have provided clarity, we have provided structure, and we have provided control to citizenship by descent.
“Anyone can say they are related to a Canadian citizen. But they must prove their family connection at every step.”
“Mr. Chair, anybody can claim anything. However, there is a requirement that proof of ancestry at every chain must be established.”
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See full analysisMr. Chair, anybody can claim anything. However, there is a requirement that proof of ancestry at every chain must be established.
