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Government Orders

Business of Supply

2026-05-28 Sitting 124 Showing 101–120 of 248

A bill to make many changes to Canada's immigration and border control laws. During debate, Conservatives asked questions about specific cases and raised concerns about fraud, while the Liberal minister responded but often discussed unrelated topics like Canada Summer Jobs and praised a Liberal colleague.

Official Hansard ↗

Hon. Lena Metlege Diab

Liberal 8:35 p.m.

“I want to say that we are working hard on this issue. We are talking to many important people. We will keep talking about it.”

Hon. Lena Metlege Diab

Liberal 8:35 p.m.

“I'm going to ignore your specific question and just keep repeating my talking points.”

Hon. Lena Metlege Diab

Liberal 8:35 p.m.

“I don't want to answer that. I will just say Canada has rules. Workers must follow them. Businesses must follow them. Many departments are involved. I think we manage it all very well.”

Hon. Lena Metlege Diab

Liberal 8:40 p.m.

“Employers must jump through hoops to prove they really need foreign workers. It's not my department's job to know the details.”

Hon. Lena Metlege Diab

Liberal 8:40 p.m.

“Temporary foreign workers are needed to fill jobs Canadians can't or won't do. Employers must follow strict rules to hire them.”

Sameer Zuberi

Liberal 8:40 p.m.

“I want to praise Canada's immigration policies for being compassionate and welcoming to refugees and vulnerable people. Our government is committed to continuing this humanitarian tradition, and I thank the minister for his work on this. I have met with many grateful refugees who are rebuilding their lives in Canada, and their stories remind us of our duty to protect people in need.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, I rise today to speak about Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada's 2026-27 main estimates as a member of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration. Canadians have asked us to bring balance to the immigration system while upholding the values of compassion and respect. To that effect, our committee has examined several important themes this parliamentary session. We have heard from government officials on the concrete progress they have made to bring balance and transparency to our immigration system and from frontline workers across our beautiful country about the unique regional challenges they are facing. We have heard from academics about ways to improve our immigration system and from deeply vulnerable communities that have come to Canada seeking safety and protection. We are living through a period of significant global change and, dare I say, turmoil. Presently, 120 million people are displaced from their homes because of climate change, conflict and persecution. Canada has a strong and proud humanitarian tradition. This reflects our values and our international obligations. We believe that everyone in need of protection deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. They deserve a chance to rebuild their lives. They deserve a chance to work, to study and to contribute to the Canadian family while here. In line with our latest humanitarian commitments regarding protected persons, we have announced a new initiative aimed at facilitating the transition to permanent residence. This initiative affects approximately 115,000 protected persons in Canada. These are particularly vulnerable individuals who have been recognized as needing protection. They have met very strict legal criteria. They cannot return to their countries of origin. If they were to return, it would mean persecution and a potential threat to their lives. These people are already contributing to communities across Canada. They are becoming neighbours, workers, students, volunteers, business leaders and members of the community—our community. They are helping to build the country we share. This initiative involving protected persons is also a matter of compassion. Many constituents in my riding, Pierrefonds—Dollard, have told me of the pain caused by family separation and the difficulty of reuniting with their loved ones. This measure will help to remedy these difficult situations. It is a good example of the necessary balance between compassion and the system's capacity. We are restoring order to the system while continuing to protect those who need it most. We have seen in the last years how quickly humanitarian situations can evolve or devolve. We have been responding to a range of international crises and displacement situations; however, behind every crisis are countless human stories. Take the case of Sudan. The humanitarian crisis in Sudan is the largest crisis in the world, with an estimated 13.6 million people uprooted by fighting and extreme violence. Community advocates have testified at the immigration committee about the Sudan family reunification program. Sudanese Canadians have sought to bring their family members to safety. They have also worked closely with IRCC and the international crisis response team to help restart biometric collection in Sudan, in partnership with the International Organization for Migration, the IOM. This is an example of what collaboration between government and advocates can achieve. Take the crisis in Gaza. It continues to be a nightmare, with staggering humanitarian needs. Palestinian Canadians who have loved ones in Gaza continue to endure heartache while trying to bring their family members to safety. Those who have found safety in Canada are deeply grateful. They have started to rebuild their lives but are still worrying about loved ones they have left behind. Canada's humanitarian tradition is built on partnerships. We do not go at it alone; we rely on international partners, such as UNHCR and others, to help identify people in need of protection. One such example is the partnership in the special immigration program of motion M-62. It was created to resettle vulnerable Uyghur refugees here in Canada. The Uyghur people are facing mass arbitrary detention, forced separation of children from their parents, forced sterilization and forced labour. At the immigration committee, we have heard from officials about the progress made through the resettlement program. Advocates have also testified about the value of the program and the need for it to continue at an increased scale. I have met with vulnerable people who are Uyghur, Palestinian, Rohingya or Ukrainian, and many others, people who have been welcomed here to Canada with open hearts and compassion. They are deeply grateful to all Canadians for providing them with refuge and safety. Their stories are human stories that remind us about our best selves, of our duty to protect people in need and of what it means to be Canadian and to be a humanitarian. In our immigration system, we work in partnership with the provinces and territories, municipalities and local communities. This collaboration is essential to welcoming newcomers. We rely on settlement organizations that provide essential integration services, including language training, employment assistance and housing supports. We also rely on civil society organizations and volunteers. They help make Canada's humanitarian tradition a daily reality for everyone. This collective effort is one of our strengths as Canadians. It is also important to remember the positive contributions made by newcomers to our communities. Immigrants contribute to our economy and help address labour shortages. They set up businesses. They build homes. They care for our sick and elderly. They also enrich our communities through their diverse backgrounds. Every generation of Canadians has been shaped by people from other places. These are people who arrived here with little to their names, people who worked hard to build a better life for their families. This story continues today. It continues in Pierrefonds—Dollard and across the country. Our government is committed to continuing to build an immigration system that is fair, sustainable and true to Canadian values. I thank the minister for being here today; for responding to the questions of all members, from both the governing party and the opposition parties, with respect to our immigration system; and for taking the time to provide thorough and accurate answers. With that, I will ask my own question. Can the Minister of Immigration share with us how these main estimates will continue to support our refugee and humanitarian immigration system while making sure that it reflects our values as Canadians, respects our international obligations and inspires confidence among Canadians for years to come?

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Hon. Lena Metlege Diab

Liberal 8:40 p.m.

“I'm filling time with kind words and saying nothing anyone could pin down later. We can't help everyone, but we'll help who we can. I want to praise Canada's immigration policies for being compassionate and welcoming to refugees and vulnerable people. Our government is committed to continuing this humanitarian tradition.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, I actually have a lot to say to respond to this particular member, the member for Pierrefonds—Dollard, because he has been a tremendous advocate and has worked very hard for the people in his community but also for vulnerable communities throughout. He has been a real champion on humanitarian issues. What really struck me is that he brought his youth council into his office when they visited Ottawa, and they stopped in at my office. They were incredibly thoughtful and engaged young people. Through them, I got to see the real work this member is doing in his community, as well as what I have seen since being here, since 2021. Canada has long been recognized as a country that offers protection to people fleeing conflict, persecution and instability. This tradition remains an important part of who we are. Canadians also expect humanitarian commitments to be delivered through a system that is fair, sustainable and responsibly managed. That is exactly what the 2026-27 main estimates will help to do. I said earlier, and the fact is, that around the world, displacement is increasing. Humanitarian crises are becoming more frequent and more complex, and immigration systems globally are under growing pressure. Canada cannot respond to every crisis in the same way, but we can ensure that our response is principled, coordinated and aligned with our capacity to support people properly once they arrive. That means balancing compassion with responsible planning. The main estimates support the people, partnerships and operational tools needed to maintain that balance. They include support for protected persons already in Canada who are transitioning to permanent residence. These individuals have already been recognized as needing Canada's protection. The estimates also reflect an important principle: Humanitarian protection is not only about offering safety in a moment of crisis; it is about helping people build their lives for the long term. That requires more than immigration pathways alone. It requires coordination, as I said earlier, with provinces and territories, municipalities, settlement organizations and community partners to help newcomers integrate successfully. It requires a lot of work. That is why our government continues to focus on building a controlled and sustainable system, a system that allows Canada to continue to offer protection over time while maintaining public confidence. Recent years have shown how quickly global crises can emerge and evolve. Canada has responded to a number of international displacement situations, each requiring a different set of tools and different operational responses. Those experiences have reinforced the importance of preparation and coordination. That is why IRCC has strengthened its crisis response framework, which helps guide how the department assesses emerging international crises and determines whether immigration measures may be part of Canada's response. It also helps ensure that decisions are thoughtful, consistent and sustainable. It considers humanitarian need alongside operational capacity, settlement supports, available space within the immigration levels plan and the ability of communities to support newcomers successfully. That matters because humanitarian responses cannot rely on improvising alone. They must be credible, they must be coordinated, and they must be built to endure. Canada's humanitarian tradition has always depended on partnerships. We rely on these groups, as I said earlier, and together with those partnerships, it allows Canada to remain a country that offers safety and stability to vulnerable people while maintaining confidence in the integrity of the system itself. The 2026-27 main estimates support that work. They support a refugee and humanitarian system that reflects Canadian values while recognizing the importance of responsible management, sustainability and long-term success. Canada will always continue to protect people in need. We will continue building an immigration system capable of upholding those commitments fairly, responsibly and sustainably into the future.

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Sameer Zuberi

Liberal 8:40 p.m.

“Thanks for showing up and saying a lot of words.”

Hon. Lena Metlege Diab

Liberal 8:40 p.m.

“I'm filling time with kind words and saying nothing anyone could pin down later.”

Hon. Lena Metlege Diab

Liberal 8:40 p.m.

“We already said the IRGC are terrorists and can't come to Canada. We did that.”

Hon. Lena Metlege Diab

Liberal 8:40 p.m.

“I'm not going to answer your yes or no question directly. I'll just repeat general points that sound good instead.”

Hon. Lena Metlege Diab

Liberal 8:40 p.m.

“I want to remind everyone that we have rules that should keep us safe. It works! I don't need to explain why this person visited Canada.”

Hon. Lena Metlege Diab

Liberal 8:40 p.m.

“I want you to think that we carefully checked this application. But I won't say whether we actually found anything wrong with this man or not.”

Hon. Lena Metlege Diab

Liberal 8:40 p.m.

“I want to avoid giving a yes or no answer. I'll talk in general about safety and co-operation instead of answering the specific question about my department ignoring the rules.”

Hon. Lena Metlege Diab

Liberal 8:40 p.m.

“That's bad. I'm okay with letting a bad guy in sometimes. We said no to lots of people. I think I look good because I said no a lot.”

Hon. Lena Metlege Diab

Liberal 9:00 p.m.

“I don't want to give a straight answer to that specific question.”

Hon. Lena Metlege Diab

Liberal 9:00 p.m.

“I don't want to give a straight answer about our security checks. Let me list other things we do instead.”

Hon. Lena Metlege Diab

Liberal 9:00 p.m.

“I want you to think I'm answering, but I'm really not saying yes or no.”

Hon. Lena Metlege Diab

Liberal 9:00 p.m.

“I'm not going to give the number you want. Instead here are some big numbers about applications and investigations.”

Hon. Lena Metlege Diab

Liberal 9:00 p.m.

“I've already answered. I'm not going to keep repeating myself just because you don't like what I said.”