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
“The Immigration and Refugee Board makes its own decisions independently.”
“Mr. Chair, I welcome my colleague across the way. I have not seen him since we were at the United Nations together. He knows that the IRB is an independent body.”
Mr. Chair, I welcome my colleague across the way. I have not seen him since we were at the United Nations together. He knows that the IRB is an independent body.
“The Immigration and Refugee Board makes its own decisions. It follows the law and the Constitution.”
“Mr. Chair, welcome to you. The IRB is an independent body. It does set its rules according to the law of the land. We have a Constitution, and we have laws we also adhere to.”
Mr. Chair, welcome to you. The IRB is an independent body. It does set its rules according to the law of the land. We have a Constitution, and we have laws we also adhere to.
“The courts, the laws, and the board should handle all serious crimes. Criminals face consequences for what they do.”
“Mr. Chair, all serious crimes should be dealt with by the courts, by the laws and by the board, and there are consequences that criminals face.”
Mr. Chair, all serious crimes should be dealt with by the courts, by the laws and by the board, and there are consequences that criminals face.
“The Immigration and Refugee Board makes its own decisions. It reports to Parliament, and we expect it to follow the law.”
“Mr. Chair, again, if the question relates to the IRB, it is an independent body, as I said. It does report to Parliament. There are laws in the country that it has to adhere to, and we expect it to do that.”
Reply to a debate question
Relevance 100 of 100
Of this reply, 100% addressed the question or point raised.
See full analysisMr. Chair, again, if the question relates to the IRB, it is an independent body, as I said. It does report to Parliament. There are laws in the country that it has to adhere to, and we expect it to do that.
“If someone in Canada has committed a crime, border agents investigate them, and they might not be allowed to stay.”
“Mr. Chair, if we find a person in Canada who has committed a crime, Canada Border Services Agency investigates that, and they could become inadmissible.”
Reply to a debate question
Relevance 49 of 100
None of this reply addressed the specific point raised or the topic under debate.
See full analysisMr. Chair, if we find a person in Canada who has committed a crime, Canada Border Services Agency investigates that, and they could become inadmissible.
“The Immigration and Refugee Board makes its own decisions. It must follow Canadian law, and it is doing that.”
“Mr. Chair, the IRB is an independent body. It has to adhere to Canadian law, and that is exactly what it is doing.”
Mr. Chair, the IRB is an independent body. It has to adhere to Canadian law, and that is exactly what it is doing.
“If a person commits a crime in Canada, border officers investigate them and they face consequences.”
“Mr. Chair, again, if a person in Canada has committed a crime, they are investigated by the Canada Border Services Agency, and there are consequences.”
Reply to a debate question
Relevance 49 of 100
None of this reply addressed the specific point raised or the topic under debate.
See full analysisMr. Chair, again, if a person in Canada has committed a crime, they are investigated by the Canada Border Services Agency, and there are consequences.
“The Immigration and Refugee Board has officers who are appointed by the government for set terms.”
“Mr. Chair, the IRB has a number of officers. They are appointed for certain terms, and it goes through an OIC process.”
Mr. Chair, the IRB has a number of officers. They are appointed for certain terms, and it goes through an OIC process.
“That news article was wrong and had to be corrected. The rules do not allow these hearings to be delayed.”
“Mr. Chair, I believe that was written in some article that was in fact corrected because it was not correct. The guidelines do not allow inadmissibility hearings to be delayed.”
Mr. Chair, I believe that was written in some article that was in fact corrected because it was not correct. The guidelines do not allow inadmissibility hearings to be delayed.
“The Immigration and Refugee Board confirmed it will only use them in very rare situations. They are not used in cases.”
“Mr. Chair, the IRB has confirmed that it will use them only in very exceptional, limited circumstances. They are not used in cases.”
Mr. Chair, the IRB has confirmed that it will use them only in very exceptional, limited circumstances. They are not used in cases.
“Our government is focused on removing criminals from Canada.”
“Mr. Chair, our government remains focused on removing criminals from the country.”
Reply to a debate question
Relevance 49 of 100
None of this reply addressed the specific point raised or the topic under debate.
See full analysisMr. Chair, our government remains focused on removing criminals from the country.
“Under my watch, we set up the country's first system to track people when they leave Canada.”
“Mr. Chair, that is a really good question. Under my watch, we have laid the foundation for the first exit tracking system in the country.”
Mr. Chair, that is a really good question. Under my watch, we have laid the foundation for the first exit tracking system in the country.
“Border officers can choose to track specific people now. We have also started building a system to track everyone who leaves the country.”
“Mr. Chair, CBSA officers can review, case by case, whether to track people, but in terms of a comprehensive exit tracking system, we have now initiated the foundation to ensure that we build that for all going forward.”
Mr. Chair, CBSA officers can review, case by case, whether to track people, but in terms of a comprehensive exit tracking system, we have now initiated the foundation to ensure that we build that for all going forward.
“The Conservatives did not track people leaving Canada when they were in power. We are setting up a system to track who leaves now.”
“Mr. Chair, the Conservatives were in power a decade ago. Canada has never had an exit tracking system. What we are doing now is ensuring that we build one.”
Mr. Chair, the Conservatives were in power a decade ago. Canada has never had an exit tracking system. What we are doing now is ensuring that we build one.
“Our immigration and border agencies are working together better. We are helping temporary residents follow the rules of their stay.”
“Mr. Chair, IRCC and CBSA continue to improve how the immigration and border systems work together. With respect to temporary residents, we are taking steps to help those with status be compliant with immigration law and respect the conditions of their stay.”
Reply to a debate question
Relevance 48 of 100
None of this reply addressed the specific point raised or the topic under debate.
See full analysisMr. Chair, IRCC and CBSA continue to improve how the immigration and border systems work together. With respect to temporary residents, we are taking steps to help those with status be compliant with immigration law and respect the conditions of their stay.
“People face consequences if they break the rules and refuse to leave Canada. Border services removed 23,000 people last year who were not allowed to be here. We are also starting a test program to track and remove people who stay too long.”
“Mr. Chair, as I have said, there are consequences for people who do not abide by the conditions and who do not leave. CBSA removed 23,000 inadmissible people last year, and we are launching the pilot to better manage, reduce and enforce overstays.”
Mr. Chair, as I have said, there are consequences for people who do not abide by the conditions and who do not leave. CBSA removed 23,000 inadmissible people last year, and we are launching the pilot to better manage, reduce and enforce overstays.
“Temporary residents who stay in Canada after their time is up face consequences. They can be removed from Canada, and they may be blocked from coming back.”
“Mr. Chair, temporary residents who do not leave Canada once their authorized period of stay has ended face consequences, including removal from Canada and restrictions if they wish to come back.”
Reply to a debate question
Relevance 49 of 100
None of this reply addressed the specific point raised or the topic under debate.
See full analysisMr. Chair, temporary residents who do not leave Canada once their authorized period of stay has ended face consequences, including removal from Canada and restrictions if they wish to come back.
“We are working harder to find fraud. We rejected far more applications this year because people lied, and we work with border officers to remove people who should not be here.”
“Mr. Chair, under a renewed effort to detect fraud, the total number of applications refused for misrepresentation has increased significantly over the last year, and we work with the CBSA to ensure that those who should be removed are removed.”
Reply to a debate question
Relevance 48 of 100
None of this reply addressed the specific point raised or the topic under debate.
See full analysisMr. Chair, under a renewed effort to detect fraud, the total number of applications refused for misrepresentation has increased significantly over the last year, and we work with the CBSA to ensure that those who should be removed are removed.
“Over the last year, our government lowered the number of asylum claims, student visas, and temporary worker permits. We also passed a law to better manage when migrants leave.”
“Mr. Chair, what Canadians need to know is what we have done over the last 12 months. Asylum claims are down, new student visas are down, and temporary foreign worker permits are down. In addition, we passed Bill C-12 to proactively manage the departure of migrants.”
Reply to a debate question
Relevance 48 of 100
None of this reply addressed the specific point raised or the topic under debate.
See full analysisMr. Chair, what Canadians need to know is what we have done over the last 12 months. Asylum claims are down, new student visas are down, and temporary foreign worker permits are down. In addition, we passed Bill C-12 to proactively manage the departure of migrants.
“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.”
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.
