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Business of Supply

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 .

Official text

171 statements

Gabriel Hardy

Conservative
“Canada agreed to let Quebec control immigration and integration within its borders. The government broke this agreement by sending too many immigrants to Quebec, so Quebec cannot properly integrate them or teach them French. I want to know if the minister still respects our agreement.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, the Canada-Quebec accord gives Quebec responsibility for accepting and integrating immigrants within its borders. In 2018, the Liberal government circumvented the spirit of the Canada-Quebec accord through the international mobility program to impose such excessive immigration volumes that Quebec is no longer able to properly integrate these individuals and teach them French. Do you still respect the Canada-Quebec accord, minister?

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Gabriel Hardy

Conservative
“The Supreme Court made Quebec give cheap child care to asylum seekers, even though some Quebeckers cannot get a spot. I want the minister to tell me if Quebec has the right to overrule that court decision.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, on March 26, the Supreme Court forced Quebec to extend its $10-a-day child care to asylum seekers even though some Quebeckers still do not even have a spot. That is completely unacceptable. Does the minister affirm Quebec’s right to invoke the notwithstanding clause to regain control, yes or no?

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Gabriel Hardy

Conservative
“The government is spending almost 900 million dollars on health care for asylum seekers, including those who were rejected. They get dental care and therapy that many Canadians cannot get, while six million Canadians do not have a family doctor. I want the minister to say if this is acceptable.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, the interim federal health program has grown from $211 million to $896 million over four years. Asylum seekers whose claims have been denied in this country receive dental care, physical therapy, and all other services that even our own population does not have access to. In fact, 6 million Canadians do not have access to a family doctor. Does the minister find this acceptable?

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Gabriel Hardy

Conservative
“Did the minister just tell me that this federal health program is actually run by the provinces?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, it seems that the interim federal health program falls under provincial jurisdiction. Is that really what she just told me?

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Gabriel Hardy

Conservative
“In 2023, 163,000 asylum seekers came to Quebec. That is more people than live in Sherbrooke or Trois-Rivières. I want the minister to explain how the system is working.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, in 2023, Quebec had 163,000 asylum seekers. This is more than the population of Sherbrooke or Trois-Rivières. How can the minister call this a system that works?

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Gabriel Hardy

Conservative
“The government cut this number by 71%. I want them to admit that there was a problem before. If there was no problem, why did they need to cut it?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, so they reduced the number by 71%. Do they acknowledge that there was a problem before? Why is it important to reduce that number now? Clearly, there is a problem.

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Gabriel Hardy

Conservative
“There will be around 300,000 asylum claims waiting for a decision by March 2026. Can the current system still handle all of these applications?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada expected close to 300,000 outstanding asylum claims by the end of March 2026. Is the former government’s existing system still capable of processing applications, yes or no?

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Gabriel Hardy

Conservative
“Quebec gave out over 167,000 federal work permits in 2023, and thousands of asylum seekers arriving there cannot speak French or English. I want the government to explain why its broken system is threatening the French language in Quebec.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, federal work permits in Quebec amounted to more than 167,000 in 2023. Meanwhile, thousands of asylum seekers are arriving in Quebec unable to speak French or English. In your opinion, is it acceptable for your broken system to threaten the survival of French in Quebec?

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Gabriel Hardy

Conservative
“The minister says there is no proof that the use of French is dropping in Canada, even in Quebec.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, according to the minister, there is no proof that French is in decline across the country, including in Quebec.

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Harb Gill

Conservative
“I am an immigrant, and I value the contributions of immigrants. But under this minister, organized crime, extortion, and immigration fraud have gone up. I want to know if the minister was careless or if he simply did not know what was happening.”

  • Question or comment in debate

    Signal 27 of 100

    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, firstly, I will be splitting my time. Secondly, I am an immigrant, and I value the hard work, sacrifices and contributions of all immigrants across this great country. Organized crime, extortion, immigration fraud and criminals gaining entry to our country all increased under the minister’s watch. Canadians are asking a simple question: Was the minister completely reckless, or was the minister completely clueless?

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Harb Gill

Conservative
“Police recently arrested 17 people in Peel Region for extorting business owners. How many of them came to Canada under the minister's watch as students, visitors, or temporary residents? When will the minister deport them?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, that was no answer. In connection to a major international extortion network targeting business owners, 17 people were arrested earlier this week in Peel Region. How many of them came as students, visitors or temporary residents under her watch, and when is the minister deporting them?

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Harb Gill

Conservative
“Extortion cases in Surrey went up by more than 1,000% in about a year. I want the minister to tell us how many of these gang members entered Canada on temporary visas.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, that was no answer again. Extortion cases in Surrey exploded by more than 1,000% in barely a year. These gangs did not swim here. How many entered Canada through temporary visa programs that this minister approved?

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Harb Gill

Conservative
“Poor border screening has let criminals, fake colleges, and visa fraud into the country. I want to know why the minister failed to do her job.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, lack of screening at the border has allowed known criminals into our country. We have fake colleges, fake jobs and fraudulent visas. The warning signs were everywhere. My former colleagues in law enforcement want to know why the minister was negligent in her duties.

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Harb Gill

Conservative
“The minister let in too many people on temporary visas, which led to fraud and crime. Did the public safety minister ever tell her to run basic security checks first?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, the minister flooded the system with temporary visas while fraud, fake schools and criminal exploitation exploded nationwide. Did the Minister of Public Safety ever talk to her about doing basic security checks on people before allowing them into the country?

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Harb Gill

Conservative
“There are at least seven international cartels operating in Canada. I want the minister to tell us how many of these cartel members came here through programs she approved.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, that was no answer. There are at least seven international cartels operating in Canada. Does the minister know how many of these suspected cartel members entered Canada through programs that she signed off on?

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Harb Gill

Conservative
“Extortion cases in Canada have gone up about 330% since 2015. I want the minister to admit that her failure to do basic security checks has put people in danger and cost them their lives and businesses.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, extortion cases across Canada have jumped roughly 330% since 2015. Did it ever occur to the minister that her lack of basic security checks have caused a major public disaster? Some people have lost their lives, and many their livelihoods, because of her inaction.

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Harb Gill

Conservative
“Canadians were told the government was letting in skilled workers and students. Instead, our communities are dealing with organized crime and fraud. I want to know if the minister knows who she is letting into the country.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, Canadians were told that foreign students and skilled workers were being let in. Instead, our communities are now dealing with organized extortion rings, fraud networks and intimidation. Is it fair to say that the minister has no idea what she is doing or who she is letting into the country?

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Harb Gill

Conservative
“The news reported for months that gangs were threatening and extorting immigrant communities. The minister did not act. Is her department embarrassed by this?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, the media knew for months that gangs were targeting immigrant communities with threats and extortion. Local newspapers were more aware of the danger than the minister was. Is the minister’s department embarrassed by her lack of action?

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Kelly DeRidder

Conservative
“A man in my riding was convicted of violent crime and has no legal status, but he is still in Canada. I want the minister to explain why violent criminals with no legal status are allowed to stay here.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, there was a woman in my riding, who immigrated in 2020. After she separated from her husband, he strangled her in front of their daughter and was found guilty. He remains in Canada, free, without a valid work permit, illegally. How does this minister allow violent criminals who have no legal status to remain in Canada?

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Kelly DeRidder

Conservative
“A person without legal status allegedly strangled someone. I want to know why the minister has not removed them from Canada.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, there has been no action. She was strangled. He did it. He allegedly has no legal status. Why does the minister not hold these people accountable and remove them from Canada?

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  23. Adjournment Proceedings Adjournment Proceedings 4 statements
  24. Adjournment Proceedings Adjournment Proceedings 4 statements
  25. Adjournment Proceedings Adjournment Proceedings 4 statements
  26. Government Orders Business of Supply 462 statements