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 .
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Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
LiberalLib
“Our border plan is working. We have fewer asylum claims, student visas, and temporary workers coming into the country.”
“Mr. Chair, as I said, we have passed Bill C-12 to ensure that we protect our borders, that we have integrity in our system and that we reinforce our values. The plan that we have set is working. The numbers of asylum claimants, student visas and temporary workers are down considerably.”
Official Hansard
Mr. Chair, as I said, we have passed Bill C-12 to ensure that we protect our borders, that we have integrity in our system and that we reinforce our values. The plan that we have set is working. The numbers of asylum claimants, student visas and temporary workers are down considerably.
“The company running 164 visa offices for Canada was flagged for fraud and security risks, and charged extra fees for faster service. Why does the immigration department still use them?”
“Mr. Chair, I think I will go with half a million, because I did not hear anything different. VFS Global runs 164 visa application centres for the government. Reports say that they charged extra for premium lounge access, which included faster turnaround and free drinks. If VFS was flagged for fraud and security risk, why is IRCC still relying on it?”
Official Hansard
Mr. Chair, I think I will go with half a million, because I did not hear anything different. VFS Global runs 164 visa application centres for the government. Reports say that they charged extra for premium lounge access, which included faster turnaround and free drinks. If VFS was flagged for fraud and security risk, why is IRCC still relying on it?
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Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
LiberalLib
“Visa application centres are run by outside companies that help with the application process. They collect personal details like fingerprints and do office work. They do important work to keep Canadians safe.”
“Mr. Chair, the visa application centres are third party providers that support the application process. They collect biometrics. They provide administrative services. They do an important job to keep Canadians safe.”
Mr. Chair, the visa application centres are third party providers that support the application process. They collect biometrics. They provide administrative services. They do an important job to keep Canadians safe.
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Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
LiberalLib
“Canada has 164 visa application centres in 109 countries. They protect the integrity of our immigration system.”
“Mr. Chair, let me, for the record, say that the IRCC VAC network includes 164 locations in 109 countries. We have an extensive network around the globe. They work to ensure that our system remains integral.”
Mr. Chair, let me, for the record, say that the IRCC VAC network includes 164 locations in 109 countries. We have an extensive network around the globe. They work to ensure that our system remains integral.
“Our government has helped bring more French-speaking immigrants to communities outside Quebec. We reached a record 8.9% last year, and our goal is 12% by 2029. I am asking the minister to explain her plan to help us reach that goal.”
“Mr. Chair, I will be sharing my time. I rise this evening to speak to an issue that is particularly close to my heart and to the minister’s: francophone immigration. As we know, immigration has significant economic, social, and demographic impacts on our communities. Immigrants enrich the social fabric of our francophone communities and help meet labour needs. As we know, immigration is the main driver of population growth in Canada. Historically, francophone immigration rates have been very low. It was not until 2019 that francophone immigration outside Quebec exceeded 2%. This has contributed to the accelerated decline in the demographic share of francophones living in minority communities across the country. That is why, in 2003, a strategic framework for francophone immigration was established. The initial goal was to reach a target of 4.4% francophone immigration by 2008. It was also in 2003 that, as part of the first action plan for official languages, initial public funding was announced to help structure the francophone immigration ecosystem. This made it possible to establish the first collaborative structures as well as French-language settlement services across the country. However, in 2006, with the change in government and priorities, francophone immigration took a back seat. We can talk about a decade of stagnation. We had to wait for the Liberals to return to power to review action on francophone immigration, including a significant reinvestment in 2018 through the action plan for official languages 2018‑2023. Then, there was a historic investment of more than $220 million to support francophone immigration in the action plan for official languages 2023-2028. I will get to that in a moment. What is important to know is that the government met its target of 4.4% in 2022 for the first time and then we increased our targets every year. For example, last year, under the minister’s leadership, we reached a record target of 8.9% for francophone immigration. This is important because francophone immigration of 8.9% is enough to put the demographic weight of francophone communities outside Quebec back on track for growth. What is more, the investments that we have made, including the over $220 million announced in 2023, have enabled us to implement targeted international recruitment measures and empower our communities to play a role in recruitment. However, there is more to it than just recruitment. We need to make sure that we have the capacity to welcome and properly integrate those who choose to settle here, whether it be in Acadia, French Ontario, western Canada or the north. We must help our communities. With the funding we have invested in francophone immigration, we are seeking to strengthen the French-speaking pathway. That begins with pre-departure services that are offered even before people arrive in the country and individualized reception services at our airports. When people arrive, they get orientation services, help finding employment, language training and community connection services, which are provided by francophone organizations that understand what life is like in our minority communities and that play a key role in integration. We need to make absolutely sure that our communities have the intake capacity needed to ensure that people stay and that immigrants who choose to settle in our communities have positive social and economic experiences. For example, we have been able to increase the number of welcoming francophone communities across the country. In fact, I am fortunate to have in my riding of Madawaska—Restigouche two of the 24 welcoming francophone communities outside Quebec. These are concrete examples of how our investments are making a real difference in this area. I would like to highlight the minister’s leadership on francophone immigration. When she took office as Nova Scotia’s immigration minister about a decade ago, francophone immigration accounted for 0.5% of admissions through the Nova Scotia nominee program. That meant that one permanent resident out of every 200 was francophone. Less than two years after the minister took office in Nova Scotia, that number had risen to 10%. The number went from one in 200 to one in 10 because she brought in concrete measures to ensure the success of francophone immigration in Nova Scotia. I am now seeing her exercise that leadership at the federal level. As I mentioned, we reached 8.9% in 2025, and we are aiming to continue toward the ambitious goal of 12% by 2029. This involves implementing a range of measures. We have a francophone immigration pilot program. We have put measures in place through express entry, and we are also working with our provincial and territorial partners. My question for the minister tonight is this: What is her plan? What measures will be put in place to enable us to achieve our ambitious goal of 12% francophone immigration by 2029? I know that this is an important issue. Like many of my colleagues, I care deeply about this issue, and having discussed it often with the minister, I know that she cares a lot about it too.”
Official Hansard
Mr. Chair, I will be sharing my time. I rise this evening to speak to an issue that is particularly close to my heart and to the minister’s: francophone immigration. As we know, immigration has significant economic, social, and demographic impacts on our communities. Immigrants enrich the social fabric of our francophone communities and help meet labour needs. As we know, immigration is the main driver of population growth in Canada. Historically, francophone immigration rates have been very low. It was not until 2019 that francophone immigration outside Quebec exceeded 2%. This has contributed to the accelerated decline in the demographic share of francophones living in minority communities across the country. That is why, in 2003, a strategic framework for francophone immigration was established. The initial goal was to reach a target of 4.4% francophone immigration by 2008. It was also in 2003 that, as part of the first action plan for official languages, initial public funding was announced to help structure the francophone immigration ecosystem. This made it possible to establish the first collaborative structures as well as French-language settlement services across the country. However, in 2006, with the change in government and priorities, francophone immigration took a back seat. We can talk about a decade of stagnation. We had to wait for the Liberals to return to power to review action on francophone immigration, including a significant reinvestment in 2018 through the action plan for official languages 2018‑2023. Then, there was a historic investment of more than $220 million to support francophone immigration in the action plan for official languages 2023-2028. I will get to that in a moment. What is important to know is that the government met its target of 4.4% in 2022 for the first time and then we increased our targets every year. For example, last year, under the minister’s leadership, we reached a record target of 8.9% for francophone immigration. This is important because francophone immigration of 8.9% is enough to put the demographic weight of francophone communities outside Quebec back on track for growth. What is more, the investments that we have made, including the over $220 million announced in 2023, have enabled us to implement targeted international recruitment measures and empower our communities to play a role in recruitment. However, there is more to it than just recruitment. We need to make sure that we have the capacity to welcome and properly integrate those who choose to settle here, whether it be in Acadia, French Ontario, western Canada or the north. We must help our communities. With the funding we have invested in francophone immigration, we are seeking to strengthen the French-speaking pathway. That begins with pre-departure services that are offered even before people arrive in the country and individualized reception services at our airports. When people arrive, they get orientation services, help finding employment, language training and community connection services, which are provided by francophone organizations that understand what life is like in our minority communities and that play a key role in integration. We need to make absolutely sure that our communities have the intake capacity needed to ensure that people stay and that immigrants who choose to settle in our communities have positive social and economic experiences. For example, we have been able to increase the number of welcoming francophone communities across the country. In fact, I am fortunate to have in my riding of Madawaska—Restigouche two of the 24 welcoming francophone communities outside Quebec. These are concrete examples of how our investments are making a real difference in this area. I would like to highlight the minister’s leadership on francophone immigration. When she took office as Nova Scotia’s immigration minister about a decade ago, francophone immigration accounted for 0.5% of admissions through the Nova Scotia nominee program. That meant that one permanent resident out of every 200 was francophone. Less than two years after the minister took office in Nova Scotia, that number had risen to 10%. The number went from one in 200 to one in 10 because she brought in concrete measures to ensure the success of francophone immigration in Nova Scotia. I am now seeing her exercise that leadership at the federal level. As I mentioned, we reached 8.9% in 2025, and we are aiming to continue toward the ambitious goal of 12% by 2029. This involves implementing a range of measures. We have a francophone immigration pilot program. We have put measures in place through express entry, and we are also working with our provincial and territorial partners. My question for the minister tonight is this: What is her plan? What measures will be put in place to enable us to achieve our ambitious goal of 12% francophone immigration by 2029? I know that this is an important issue. Like many of my colleagues, I care deeply about this issue, and having discussed it often with the minister, I know that she cares a lot about it too.
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Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
LiberalLib
“The French language is central to Canada. We have exceeded our goals for French-speaking immigration outside Quebec for four years in a row. This year, we are saving 5,000 more immigration spots for French speakers. We are also spending money to help them move here and settle into communities.”
“Mr. Chair, I would like to begin by thanking my colleague, the member for Madawaska—Restigouche, for his hard work over the past decade on behalf of his community in New Brunswick, as well as the Canadian francophone community and Acadians. I want to congratulate him once again on the research and the work he did before entering politics to support official language minority communities. It has been a pleasure to work with him and his constituents over the past year. They are very fortunate to have such a dedicated member of Parliament. For me, the French language is central to Canadian identity and culture. By protecting it, we are preserving part of what sets us apart as a country. Thanks to our programs, we have met and even exceeded, as the member said, our target for francophone immigration outside Quebec for four consecutive years, which puts us on track to achieve 12% francophone immigration by 2029. This year, we are reserving an additional 5,000 spaces for the provinces and territories to welcome francophone immigrants. I would like to take this opportunity to say that New Brunswick is a leader in filling these spaces, and I hope that many provinces will follow suit. This is a new initiative I have launched as minister. We did so because we realize that we need to increase francophone immigration and strengthen our partnership with the provinces, territories, communities and organizations. We are also continuing to invest in community projects that inform, attract and integrate francophone immigrants outside Quebec. We are making modifications to the settlement program and protecting it.”
Official Hansard
Mr. Chair, I would like to begin by thanking my colleague, the member for Madawaska—Restigouche, for his hard work over the past decade on behalf of his community in New Brunswick, as well as the Canadian francophone community and Acadians. I want to congratulate him once again on the research and the work he did before entering politics to support official language minority communities. It has been a pleasure to work with him and his constituents over the past year. They are very fortunate to have such a dedicated member of Parliament. For me, the French language is central to Canadian identity and culture. By protecting it, we are preserving part of what sets us apart as a country. Thanks to our programs, we have met and even exceeded, as the member said, our target for francophone immigration outside Quebec for four consecutive years, which puts us on track to achieve 12% francophone immigration by 2029. This year, we are reserving an additional 5,000 spaces for the provinces and territories to welcome francophone immigrants. I would like to take this opportunity to say that New Brunswick is a leader in filling these spaces, and I hope that many provinces will follow suit. This is a new initiative I have launched as minister. We did so because we realize that we need to increase francophone immigration and strengthen our partnership with the provinces, territories, communities and organizations. We are also continuing to invest in community projects that inform, attract and integrate francophone immigrants outside Quebec. We are making modifications to the settlement program and protecting it.
“I support our immigration budget. It helps us protect refugees fairly and quickly, while making sure our system has the resources to handle them and help them become permanent residents.”
“Mr. Chair, I am pleased to rise today to speak to Canada’s refugee and humanitarian commitments, and how Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s 2026-27 main estimates will support this work. Immigration is one of the great acts of nation building. It is how we meet labour shortages, reunite families and respond to persecution and displacement. It is also how people born elsewhere come to call Canada home and become our neighbours, workers, entrepreneurs, parents, volunteers and citizens. There is no question that immigrants and newcomers have contributed tremendously to Canada by driving economic growth and strengthening our communities. Immigration policy is not only about numbers, applications or fiscal lines. It is about the kind of country we are choosing to build and whether we have the discipline, the generosity and the institutional seriousness to build it well. The question before us is not whether Canada remains a welcoming country. The more difficult question is whether we can remain welcoming in a way that is credible, orderly and sustainable. I believe that we can, if we are honest about what makes that possible. That is the context for these main estimates. A system that is overwhelmed cannot service the people who need it most. People who come to Canada seeking protections are arriving at one of the most difficult times in their lives and deserve a system that treats them with dignity, gives them a fair hearing and provides them with timely decisions. We know that a system that cannot distinguish truth from fraud cannot properly protect the vulnerable. We also know that a system that is overwhelmed cannot offer timely protection to the people who need it most. While Canada cannot control when crises emerge, we can control how we prepare, how we respond and how we ensure that our response reflects both our humanitarian commitments and the capacity of our immigration system. As a proud Vietnamese Canadian, I know that Canada’s humanitarian tradition is not only something we describe in policy, but something real people have lived. The story of Vietnamese refugees in Canada is part of the modern story of this country. It is the story of the families who arrived after conflict, displacement and uncertainty. Canada made it possible for those who fled Vietnam to arrive to safety, stability and a fair chance at becoming a part of the fabric of this country. This is one example of what humanitarian protection can mean at its best. It gives people an opportunity to move beyond a point of crisis to belonging, contributing and one day becoming part of the Canadian story themselves. That is the promise behind humanitarian protection. To keep that promise, compassion has to be matched with capacity. That means having the right planning, partnerships and supports in place, not only to offer protection, but to help people rebuild their lives once they are here. It also means maintaining public confidence. Canadians need to see our humanitarian commitments continue to offer protection over time. It means that when we respond to people in need, we do so through a system that can endure: one that is planned, coordinated, fair to applicants, responsible to communities and aligned with our country’s capacity. These main estimates help to support that work. They support the people, programs and partnerships needed to manage immigration responsibly, including the work required to uphold Canada’s humanitarian commitments. This includes targeted supports for protected persons already in Canada, helping eligible protected persons and their in-Canada dependants transition to permanent residency in 2026 and 2027. These are people who have already been found to need Canada’s protection. Helping them transition to permanent residency provides stability. It allows them to continue building their lives with greater security, put down roots, work, study, raise families and contribute more fully to the communities where they have been welcomed. This is an important example of how humanitarian commitments and responsible system management can work together. Canada will continue to be there for people in need, but we also need to make sure that our humanitarian pathways are delivered through a system that can support people properly. That means considering settlement capacity, working with provinces, territories and communities, and aligning our humanitarian measures with the immigration levels plan, operational realities and the broader needs of the system. Recent years have shown how quickly humanitarian situations can evolve. Canada has responded to a range of international crises and displacement situations. Each one has been different. Each one has required careful decisions about what Canada can do, which tools are appropriate and how immigration measures fit within that broader government response. These experiences have reinforced an important lesson: Humanitarian responses must be principled, coordinated and sustainable. That is why IRCC has strengthened the way it prepares for and responds to emerging international crises. The department’s crisis response framework helps guide how IRCC assesses emerging crises and considers whether immigration measures may be appropriate as part of Canada’s—”
Official Hansard
Mr. Chair, I am pleased to rise today to speak to Canada’s refugee and humanitarian commitments, and how Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s 2026-27 main estimates will support this work. Immigration is one of the great acts of nation building. It is how we meet labour shortages, reunite families and respond to persecution and displacement. It is also how people born elsewhere come to call Canada home and become our neighbours, workers, entrepreneurs, parents, volunteers and citizens. There is no question that immigrants and newcomers have contributed tremendously to Canada by driving economic growth and strengthening our communities. Immigration policy is not only about numbers, applications or fiscal lines. It is about the kind of country we are choosing to build and whether we have the discipline, the generosity and the institutional seriousness to build it well. The question before us is not whether Canada remains a welcoming country. The more difficult question is whether we can remain welcoming in a way that is credible, orderly and sustainable. I believe that we can, if we are honest about what makes that possible. That is the context for these main estimates. A system that is overwhelmed cannot service the people who need it most. People who come to Canada seeking protections are arriving at one of the most difficult times in their lives and deserve a system that treats them with dignity, gives them a fair hearing and provides them with timely decisions. We know that a system that cannot distinguish truth from fraud cannot properly protect the vulnerable. We also know that a system that is overwhelmed cannot offer timely protection to the people who need it most. While Canada cannot control when crises emerge, we can control how we prepare, how we respond and how we ensure that our response reflects both our humanitarian commitments and the capacity of our immigration system. As a proud Vietnamese Canadian, I know that Canada’s humanitarian tradition is not only something we describe in policy, but something real people have lived. The story of Vietnamese refugees in Canada is part of the modern story of this country. It is the story of the families who arrived after conflict, displacement and uncertainty. Canada made it possible for those who fled Vietnam to arrive to safety, stability and a fair chance at becoming a part of the fabric of this country. This is one example of what humanitarian protection can mean at its best. It gives people an opportunity to move beyond a point of crisis to belonging, contributing and one day becoming part of the Canadian story themselves. That is the promise behind humanitarian protection. To keep that promise, compassion has to be matched with capacity. That means having the right planning, partnerships and supports in place, not only to offer protection, but to help people rebuild their lives once they are here. It also means maintaining public confidence. Canadians need to see our humanitarian commitments continue to offer protection over time. It means that when we respond to people in need, we do so through a system that can endure: one that is planned, coordinated, fair to applicants, responsible to communities and aligned with our country’s capacity. These main estimates help to support that work. They support the people, programs and partnerships needed to manage immigration responsibly, including the work required to uphold Canada’s humanitarian commitments. This includes targeted supports for protected persons already in Canada, helping eligible protected persons and their in-Canada dependants transition to permanent residency in 2026 and 2027. These are people who have already been found to need Canada’s protection. Helping them transition to permanent residency provides stability. It allows them to continue building their lives with greater security, put down roots, work, study, raise families and contribute more fully to the communities where they have been welcomed. This is an important example of how humanitarian commitments and responsible system management can work together. Canada will continue to be there for people in need, but we also need to make sure that our humanitarian pathways are delivered through a system that can support people properly. That means considering settlement capacity, working with provinces, territories and communities, and aligning our humanitarian measures with the immigration levels plan, operational realities and the broader needs of the system. Recent years have shown how quickly humanitarian situations can evolve. Canada has responded to a range of international crises and displacement situations. Each one has been different. Each one has required careful decisions about what Canada can do, which tools are appropriate and how immigration measures fit within that broader government response. These experiences have reinforced an important lesson: Humanitarian responses must be principled, coordinated and sustainable. That is why IRCC has strengthened the way it prepares for and responds to emerging international crises. The department’s crisis response framework helps guide how IRCC assesses emerging crises and considers whether immigration measures may be appropriate as part of Canada’s—
“I want the minister to explain why our partnerships with community groups helping newcomers are so important.”
“Mr. Chair, I would like to ask my dear colleague, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, about these main estimates. It has been very good to have the minister come and see some of the incredible work being supported in my riding of Spadina—Harbourfront. We had a chance to see first-hand the work of Centre Francophone du Grand Toronto, where they have a legal clinic, medical services, employment supports and mental health and counselling for newcomers. Can the minister speak more on why partnerships with organizations like Centre francophone, the Institute for Canadian Citizenship and Rainbow Railroad are so important and what role they play to help us deliver on our shared objectives?”
Official Hansard
Mr. Chair, I would like to ask my dear colleague, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, about these main estimates. It has been very good to have the minister come and see some of the incredible work being supported in my riding of Spadina—Harbourfront. We had a chance to see first-hand the work of Centre Francophone du Grand Toronto, where they have a legal clinic, medical services, employment supports and mental health and counselling for newcomers. Can the minister speak more on why partnerships with organizations like Centre francophone, the Institute for Canadian Citizenship and Rainbow Railroad are so important and what role they play to help us deliver on our shared objectives?
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Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
LiberalLib
“We are balancing compassion with responsible planning as we run our immigration system. Our spending plan supports this balance. This year, our target is to welcome 49,300 refugees and protected people. We plan to spend $935.7 million to support groups across the country that help newcomers settle here.”
“Mr. Chair, first, let me begin by thanking the member for Spadina—Harbourfront for her real advocacy. She is a real champion for people who need humanitarian protection and for settlement organizations. I did visit with her, in her community, Centre francophone, and I saw the great work the settlement organization is doing. I very much appreciated her remarks, particularly when she referred to the estimates and the fact that we need to balance our compassion with responsible planning. That is exactly what we are doing. We are managing our migration system. The main estimates support the people, the partnerships and the operational tools needed to maintain that balance. Canada has a global leadership role in protecting and resettling the world’s most vulnerable. The target for refugees and protected persons for this year is 49,300. We plan, this year, to invest $935.7 million in settlement services, with over 530 service providers across the country. I very much appreciate the member and the organizations that are in her community. I also had a chance to visit many parts of this beautiful country, and I have visited many settlement organizations. I want to thank them here tonight for all the work they are doing on behalf of the most vulnerable and also on behalf of Canadians.”
Mr. Chair, first, let me begin by thanking the member for Spadina—Harbourfront for her real advocacy. She is a real champion for people who need humanitarian protection and for settlement organizations. I did visit with her, in her community, Centre francophone, and I saw the great work the settlement organization is doing. I very much appreciated her remarks, particularly when she referred to the estimates and the fact that we need to balance our compassion with responsible planning. That is exactly what we are doing. We are managing our migration system. The main estimates support the people, the partnerships and the operational tools needed to maintain that balance. Canada has a global leadership role in protecting and resettling the world’s most vulnerable. The target for refugees and protected persons for this year is 49,300. We plan, this year, to invest $935.7 million in settlement services, with over 530 service providers across the country. I very much appreciate the member and the organizations that are in her community. I also had a chance to visit many parts of this beautiful country, and I have visited many settlement organizations. I want to thank them here tonight for all the work they are doing on behalf of the most vulnerable and also on behalf of Canadians.
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Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
LiberalLib
“I am ready to answer my colleagues' questions tonight.”
“Mr. Chair, I really appreciate these questions and, in fact, question period this week. There have been quite a few questions posed on that. I am happy to respond to all of my colleagues’ questions tonight.”
Mr. Chair, I really appreciate these questions and, in fact, question period this week. There have been quite a few questions posed on that. I am happy to respond to all of my colleagues’ questions tonight.
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Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
LiberalLib
“We cut asylum claims by 60 percent in early 2026 compared to 2024.”
“Mr. Chair, again, I am going to repeat, for the member’s benefit, what we have done over the last year. We have now reduced the asylum claims by 60% in the early months of 2026, compared to 2024. I know that members keep talking about what it was a couple of years ago, but we are living in today’s world.”
Mr. Chair, again, I am going to repeat, for the member’s benefit, what we have done over the last year. We have now reduced the asylum claims by 60% in the early months of 2026, compared to 2024. I know that members keep talking about what it was a couple of years ago, but we are living in today’s world.
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Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
LiberalLib
“We are spending $4.4 billion, which is 15% less than last year. We are spending less partly because fewer people are asking for asylum.”
“Mr. Chair, the estimates that we have here are really what we are here to talk about: $4.4 billion, a 15% reduction from last year. Some of that reduction is due to the fact that our asylum claims have gone down.”
Mr. Chair, the estimates that we have here are really what we are here to talk about: $4.4 billion, a 15% reduction from last year. Some of that reduction is due to the fact that our asylum claims have gone down.
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Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
LiberalLib
“The number of asylum seekers is going down. We made small changes to the system, and we are making it easier for doctors in Canada to become permanent residents.”
“Mr. Chair, again, as I said, our asylum numbers are going down. We have introduced moderate changes to the system, and we are facilitating permanent residence applications for doctors in Canada.”
Mr. Chair, again, as I said, our asylum numbers are going down. We have introduced moderate changes to the system, and we are facilitating permanent residence applications for doctors in Canada.
“Why is the minister giving extra health benefits like physiotherapy, counselling, and home care to asylum seekers who were turned down?”
“Mr. Chair, why is the minister giving rejected asylum claimants luxury health benefits like physiotherapy, counselling and home care through the interim federal health program?”
Official Hansard
Mr. Chair, why is the minister giving rejected asylum claimants luxury health benefits like physiotherapy, counselling and home care through the interim federal health program?
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Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
LiberalLib
“This program provides short-term health care for vulnerable people. The budget officer says it will save more than 200 million dollars a year.”
“Mr. Chair, this is temporary health coverage for vulnerable populations for essential services. The PBO estimates that we will reduce the expenditures by over $200 million annually.”
Official Hansard
Mr. Chair, this is temporary health coverage for vulnerable populations for essential services. The PBO estimates that we will reduce the expenditures by over $200 million annually.
