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 .
462 statements
“Will the minister tell the immigration board not to use these new rules to delay deporting serious criminals?”
“Mr. Chair, will the minister direct the IRB not to use these new guidelines to delay the removal of serious criminals?”
Mr. Chair, will the minister direct the IRB not to use these new guidelines to delay the removal of serious criminals?
“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.
“Will the minister take responsibility if these rules let a dangerous criminal stay in Canada?”
“Mr. Chair, it will use these rules, then? If a serious criminal stays in Canada because of these rules it will use from time to time, as the minister just said, will she take responsibility for this?”
Mr. Chair, it will use these rules, then? If a serious criminal stays in Canada because of these rules it will use from time to time, as the minister just said, will she take responsibility for this?
“Our government is focused on removing criminals from Canada.”
“Mr. Chair, our government remains focused on removing criminals from the country.”
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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.
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“I want to know if the government tracks when temporary residents leave the country.”
“Mr. Chair, the government will not tell the independent Immigration and Refugee Board what to do. I do not even know what to say about that. Let us talk about exit tracking. Does the government know exactly when temporary residents leave the country?”
Mr. Chair, the government will not tell the independent Immigration and Refugee Board what to do. I do not even know what to say about that. Let us talk about exit tracking. Does the government know exactly when temporary residents leave 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.
“Is the minister saying that our country has not been able to track people leaving Canada until now?”
“Mr. Chair, is the minister saying that up until now we could not track exits in our country? Is that what the minister is saying?”
Mr. Chair, is the minister saying that up until now we could not track exits in our country? Is that what the minister is saying?
“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.
“I want to know why the government brought in millions of people without a good way to track who leaves the country.”
“Mr. Chair, I guess I am curious as to why the government chose to bring in millions of people without having a decent exit tracking system.”
Mr. Chair, I guess I am curious as to why the government chose to bring in millions of people without having a decent exit tracking system.
“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.
“About two million temporary visas expire this year. The minister expects these people to leave. I want the minister to confirm if they are actually leaving.”
“Mr. Chair, it is important to note that the government has brought in millions of people using a system that does not work. The minister is expecting about two million temporary visas to expire this year. That is about 160,000 per month. She also expects them to leave. Can the minister confirm that temporary residents are leaving Canada at these rates?”
Mr. Chair, it is important to note that the government has brought in millions of people using a system that does not work. The minister is expecting about two million temporary visas to expire this year. That is about 160,000 per month. She also expects them to leave. Can the minister confirm that temporary residents are leaving Canada at these rates?
“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.”
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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.
“About 160,000 people are leaving each month. I want the minister to confirm if her department is seeing those numbers.”
“Mr. Chair, it works out to about 160,000 people leaving per month. Can the minister confirm that those are the kinds of numbers that she is seeing in her department?”
Mr. Chair, it works out to about 160,000 people leaving per month. Can the minister confirm that those are the kinds of numbers that she is seeing in her department?
“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.”
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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.
“I want the minister to answer my question. The department must have an estimate of how many undocumented people are in Canada right now.”
“Mr. Chair, we understand the rules, but my question is, how many are there? The department must have an estimate. I am sure the minister has a deputy minister sitting right there. They must have an estimate of how many undocumented people are in Canada right now.”
Mr. Chair, we understand the rules, but my question is, how many are there? The department must have an estimate. I am sure the minister has a deputy minister sitting right there. They must have an estimate of how many undocumented people are in Canada right now.
“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.”
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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.
“The government once said there were 500,000 undocumented people in Canada. I want to know if that number is still correct, or if the minister does not know.”
“Mr. Chair, I did not hear a number in there. I know that a couple years ago, IRCC at committee estimated that half a million undocumented people were in Canada. Is that number still accurate, or does the minister just not know?”
Mr. Chair, I did not hear a number in there. I know that a couple years ago, IRCC at committee estimated that half a million undocumented people were in Canada. Is that number still accurate, or does the minister just not know?
“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
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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.
“Canadians want to know if there are half a million people living in the country without permission.”
“Mr. Chair, I think what is more important to Canadians, what they really want to know, is whether there are half a million people who are not supposed to be here.”
Mr. Chair, I think what is more important to Canadians, what they really want to know, is whether there are half a million people who are not supposed to be here.
