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 .
171 statements
“Does the minister understand that immigration levels affect the demand for health care?”
“Mr. Chair, does the minister understand that immigration levels impact health care demand, yes or no?”
Mr. Chair, does the minister understand that immigration levels impact health care demand, yes or no?
“How much more population growth can Canada's health care system handle right now?”
“Mr. Chair, how much more population growth can Canada’s health care system currently handle?”
Mr. Chair, how much more population growth can Canada’s health care system currently handle?
“I want the minister to tell us how many more people our health care system can handle.”
“Mr. Chair, does the minister know how many more people our health care system can handle? It is a very simple question.”
Mr. Chair, does the minister know how many more people our health care system can handle? It is a very simple question.
“Would removing 74,000 failed asylum seekers ease the pressure on our health care system?”
“Mr. Chair, would removing 74,000 failed asylum claimants in Canada reduce any demand on our health care system?”
Mr. Chair, would removing 74,000 failed asylum claimants in Canada reduce any demand on our health care system?
“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?”
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?
“Why does someone whose asylum claim was rejected get free physiotherapy, counselling, and home care when most Canadians have to pay for those things themselves?”
“Mr. Chair, why should a rejected asylum claimant receive physiotherapy, counselling and home care when most Canadians pay for those benefits themselves?”
Mr. Chair, why should a rejected asylum claimant receive physiotherapy, counselling and home care when most Canadians pay for those benefits themselves?
“I want to know if the immigration minister plans to give more health benefits to people whose refugee claims were rejected.”
“Mr. Chair, is the immigration minister considering expanding luxury health benefits for rejected asylum claimants, yes or no?”
Mr. Chair, is the immigration minister considering expanding luxury health benefits for rejected asylum claimants, yes or no?
“What happens if an asylum seeker does not pay into the government copay program?”
“Mr. Chair, what if an asylum claimant does not pay for the government’s copay program?”
Mr. Chair, what if an asylum claimant does not pay for the government’s copay program?
“Does the minister agree with giving extra health benefits to rejected refugee claimants if they get a 70 percent discount?”
“Mr. Chair, is the minister okay with giving luxury health benefits to rejected asylum claimants as long as they pay a 70% discount on the benefit?”
Mr. Chair, is the minister okay with giving luxury health benefits to rejected asylum claimants as long as they pay a 70% discount on the benefit?
“I want the minister to answer if someone whose asylum claim was rejected, and who is charged with sexual assault, should still get government-funded physiotherapy.”
“Mr. Chair, does the minister believe that a rejected asylum claimant who has been charged with rape or sexual assault should remain eligible for physiotherapy benefits?”
Mr. Chair, does the minister believe that a rejected asylum claimant who has been charged with rape or sexual assault should remain eligible for physiotherapy benefits?
“How many former hotels or motels is the federal government paying for to house asylum seekers?”
“Mr. Chair, when I asked the minister at committee about the purchase of real estate for asylum housing, she had a bit of a confused look on her face and provided a rather bizarre answer. She said that the population was staying in these hotels. How many former hotels, motels or hospitality properties are currently being funded through federal transfers to house failed or asylum claimants?”
Mr. Chair, when I asked the minister at committee about the purchase of real estate for asylum housing, she had a bit of a confused look on her face and provided a rather bizarre answer. She said that the population was staying in these hotels. How many former hotels, motels or hospitality properties are currently being funded through federal transfers to house failed or asylum claimants?
“How many hotels is the federal government paying municipalities to buy for housing asylum seekers? I want that number.”
“Mr. Chair, let me try to rephrase that, because we know that the City of Pickering has purchased hotels through transfers from the federal government. How many hotels is the government funding through transfers to municipalities to house asylum claimants? It is a simple number.”
Question or comment in debate
Clarity 45 of 100
Much of this statement used imprecise wording, lacked details on timing or responsibility, or made broad claims without support.
See full analysisMr. Chair, let me try to rephrase that, because we know that the City of Pickering has purchased hotels through transfers from the federal government. How many hotels is the government funding through transfers to municipalities to house asylum claimants? It is a simple number.
“Is the minister saying cities have not used federal money meant for asylum seekers to buy real estate?”
“Mr. Chair, we are now calling them “reception centres”. Is the minister suggesting that municipalities have not been buying real estate with the funds that have been transferred by her department for the purpose of housing asylum claimants?”
Mr. Chair, we are now calling them “reception centres”. Is the minister suggesting that municipalities have not been buying real estate with the funds that have been transferred by her department for the purpose of housing asylum claimants?
“The government uses reception centres as an excuse for cities to buy hotels for asylum seekers. I want the minister to tell me what legal text allows cities to buy real estate with public money.”
“Mr. Chair, there is a twist: “reception centres” is catchphrase for allowing municipalities to purchase hotels to put asylum claimants in them. Let me go back to another question I asked the minister in committee. There are contribution agreements that are signed between IRCC and municipalities. What is the language in the contribution agreement that allows the municipalities to purchase real estate with taxpayers’ money?”
Mr. Chair, there is a twist: “reception centres” is catchphrase for allowing municipalities to purchase hotels to put asylum claimants in them. Let me go back to another question I asked the minister in committee. There are contribution agreements that are signed between IRCC and municipalities. What is the language in the contribution agreement that allows the municipalities to purchase real estate with taxpayers’ money?
“I want the minister to tell me what rule lets cities use federal money to buy real estate for asylum seekers.”
“Once again, Mr. Chair, there is a contribution agreement between IRCC and municipalities that receive federal funding. What is the language in the contribution agreement that gives the authority for municipalities to purchase real estate for asylum claimants? It is a very simple question. Does the minister know the answer?”
Once again, Mr. Chair, there is a contribution agreement between IRCC and municipalities that receive federal funding. What is the language in the contribution agreement that gives the authority for municipalities to purchase real estate for asylum claimants? It is a very simple question. Does the minister know the answer?
“How many hotels has the government bought with taxpayer money through agreements with cities? I want an answer to this question.”
“Mr. Chair, I am not sure we are going to be able to get to the bottom of this. How many hotels have been purchased with taxpayer money, through contribution agreements between IRCC and municipalities? It is a very simple question.”
Mr. Chair, I am not sure we are going to be able to get to the bottom of this. How many hotels have been purchased with taxpayer money, through contribution agreements between IRCC and municipalities? It is a very simple question.
“The minister will not give me a straight answer. We know the city of Ottawa spent over $40 million to buy property for asylum seekers. I want the minister to tell me what happens to this property, and who gets the money when the city sells it.”
“Mr. Chair, I am not going to get a straight answer, for whatever reason. It does not seem like a difficult question. In these contribution agreements, she will not verify that there is language that allows municipalities to purchase real estate, but we know that they have purchased real estate because it has been all over the news, including the fact that the City of Ottawa spent over $40 million purchasing real estate for asylum claimants. Let me ask the minister this. What happens to the real estate? Who gets the proceeds when the city sells this real estate?”
Mr. Chair, I am not going to get a straight answer, for whatever reason. It does not seem like a difficult question. In these contribution agreements, she will not verify that there is language that allows municipalities to purchase real estate, but we know that they have purchased real estate because it has been all over the news, including the fact that the City of Ottawa spent over $40 million purchasing real estate for asylum claimants. Let me ask the minister this. What happens to the real estate? Who gets the proceeds when the city sells this real estate?
“The minister said there is no evidence that French is declining in Quebec or Canada. I want to know if she still stands by that answer.”
“Mr. Chair, a few minutes ago, I asked the minister if she acknowledged the evidence that French is declining in Quebec. With all her advisers around her, the minister replied that there is no evidence that French is declining in Quebec or in Canada. Does the minister wish to stand by that answer?”
Mr. Chair, a few minutes ago, I asked the minister if she acknowledged the evidence that French is declining in Quebec. With all her advisers around her, the minister replied that there is no evidence that French is declining in Quebec or in Canada. Does the minister wish to stand by that answer?
“Reports show that the share of French speakers in Quebec has been dropping since 2021, mostly because of immigration. It is expected to drop another 10% by 2036. Does the minister agree this is happening?”
“Mr. Chair, according to reports by Radio-Canada, Le Devoir, and La Presse, French in Quebec has been in demographic decline since 2021, particularly with regard to immigration. The percentage of native French speakers is projected to drop by 10% by 2036. Does the minister acknowledge that?”
Mr. Chair, according to reports by Radio-Canada, Le Devoir, and La Presse, French in Quebec has been in demographic decline since 2021, particularly with regard to immigration. The percentage of native French speakers is projected to drop by 10% by 2036. Does the minister acknowledge that?
“Only 58 percent of people in Montreal speak French as their main language. Does the minister agree that the French language is declining in Quebec?”
“Mr. Chair, another very interesting fact is that in Montreal, only 58% of the population uses French as their primary language. That statistic is from five years ago. Does the minister acknowledge that French is in decline in Quebec?”
Mr. Chair, another very interesting fact is that in Montreal, only 58% of the population uses French as their primary language. That statistic is from five years ago. Does the minister acknowledge that French is in decline in Quebec?
