Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Question period on immigration and national security. Conservatives said talented workers are leaving for the United States, that too many people have been brought in too fast for housing and health care, that over 30,000 start-up visa applicants are waiting, and that few of the people flagged for removal on security grounds are actually deported. They also said the government’s new national security strategy does not address backlogs in screening newcomers and cited a case of a man admitted to Canada who was later convicted of a terrorism offence. The government pointed to Budget 2025’s plan to recruit international researchers, said researchers are moving to Canada, and defended the new national security strategy as covering screening, with more detailed plans to come.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text (opens in a new tab)

4 statements

Carlos Leitão, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry

Liberal
“Research and innovation are top priorities for our government. We have a plan to bring world-class researchers to Canada. Over the last several months, many top researchers from the United States have moved to Canadian cities.”
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Mr. Speaker, innovation and research are very important priorities for our government. Budget 2025 launched an international talent attraction strategy and action plan. This will support recruitment of world-class researchers and advance Canada’s global competitiveness and research excellence. What we have also seen in the last six to nine months is that a large number of U.S.-based, top-notch researchers have come to Canada, including to Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, and this will accelerate—

Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety

Liberal
“Today we released a national security plan that involves the whole government. In the coming weeks and months, we will release more plans for public safety, intelligence, defence, the economy, and foreign policy. This is a rare chance to look at national security the right way.”
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Mr. Speaker, this is a historic day for Canada. We released a national security strategy that encompasses an all-of-government approach toward strategic national security. We will, in the coming weeks and months, release specific strategies toward public safety, as well as intelligence, defence, the economy and foreign policy. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for us to ensure that we have a strategic view of national security.

Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety

Liberal
“Our national security plan already covers what the member is asking about. We are working on a bigger plan that includes security screening, which keeps Canadians safe.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the national security strategy is all-encompassing and has many elements of what my friend opposite is seeking. I can assure her that as part of the public safety portfolio, we are working toward finalizing a more comprehensive response that includes security screening. It is an essential part of keeping Canadians safe.

Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety

Liberal
“I hope the member actually read the whole document instead of just searching for keywords. This document is needed to keep Canadians safe. In the coming weeks and months, it will be clear that it protects Canadians and meets our security goals.”
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Mr. Speaker, I certainly hope the member opposite went beyond Ctrl+F to read this document. It is an essential part of ensuring the safety and security of Canadians. There are elements in there that will, over the next several weeks and months, make it abundantly clear that this is about ensuring the safety and security of every Canadian while ensuring that strategic security objectives are met.

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