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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Question period in the House focused on the immigration system, with repeated Conservative questions about whether the government can track when non-citizens leave Canada, a reported visa issued to someone connected to Iran, and asylum claims the late speaker called fraudulent. The Conservatives pressed the Prime Minister to remove the minister from her role and to admit the system is not under control. The Liberal replies, from Minister Lena Metlege Diab, said the plan is working, citing decreases in asylum seekers and temporary residents, record economic and French-speaking immigration, that no one tied to the Iranian regime was admitted, that the visa document was not approved by her, and that an exit-tracking system is being built.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

6 statements

Brad Redekopp

Conservative
“The government cannot track who leaves Canada. The immigration minister does not know either. If the Prime Minister does not think she is doing a good job, he should fire her.”

  • Opposition question in Question Period

    Respect 89 of 100

    This statement targeted a person rather than their actions or views: “she is simply following the Prime Minister's orders”.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has said that our immigration system is “under control”. Ordinary Canadians know this is not true. For example, in Canada, we have no idea who is here or not here, because the government has no way of tracking who is leaving the country or when they leave. When asked about this yesterday, the immigration minister said she wondered the same thing. The Prime Minister appointed this immigration minister. He kept her in her job. He meets with her on a weekly basis. He believes the immigration system is under control. Clearly, she is simply following the Prime Minister’s orders. Can the Prime Minister confirm that this minister is doing a good job implementing his own ideas, or if not, why does he not just fire her?

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Lena Metlege Diab

Liberal

Linked statement

“Our immigration plan is working. The number of asylum seekers and temporary residents has gone down. At the same time, we are bringing in record numbers of French-speaking and skilled workers.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 100 of 100

    Of this answer, 100% addressed the question that was asked.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we have a plan that works. Under this minister, the number of asylum seekers has decreased, the number of new temporary residents has decreased, and we are setting records on economic immigration and attracting French-speaking immigrants. We will continue to deliver results for all Canadians.

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Michelle Rempel Garner

Conservative
“The government gave a visa to a terrorist, let in thousands of people who made fake claims, and cannot track expired visas. Why has the Prime Minister not fired the immigration minister?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the minister just claimed that their plan is working, yet in the last week alone, we found out that the Liberal government issued a special visa to a terrorist so he could enter Canada. It allowed over 21,000 non-citizens who fraudulently came into Canada to claim asylum, and it has no way to track if millions of non-citizens on expired or expiring visas would leave. The Prime Minister said that this is taking control of the immigration system. If that is his opinion, is that the real reason why he has not fired his minister?

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Lena Metlege Diab

Liberal
“Our plan is working. Canada has not let in anyone connected to Iran's current or former regime. No Iranian military official attended the meeting, and I did not approve the document. We are keeping our system strong to protect Canadians.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 100 of 100

    Of this answer, 100% addressed the question that was asked.

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Official Hansard

On the contrary, Mr. Speaker, our plan is working quite well. As we have already stated, no individual associated with the current or former Iranian regime has been admitted into Canada. No IRGC official attended the congress. I did not authorize the document. There was no decision that was taken on that. I have spoken to officials to ensure that we have a robust system. We will continue to hold the Iranian regime to account and we will protect Canadians. As I said, we are building—

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Michelle Rempel Garner

Conservative
“The government does not have control of the immigration system. It cannot track who leaves, and it gave visitor visas to terrorists. I want the minister to admit the Prime Minister broke the system.”

  • Opposition question in Question Period

    Signal 30 of 100

    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, when we listen to that answer and then listen to the Prime Minister say that the Liberals have taken back control of the immigration system, it kind of sounds a little delulu. The entire system is rife with abuse. There is no way to track if non-citizens actually leave and they are issuing visitor visas to terrorists. If this is the Prime Minister’s definition of what taking control of the immigration system is, then the dumpster fire is his fault, not hers. Does she agree?

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Lena Metlege Diab

Liberal
“Our government is setting up a system to track when people leave Canada. Temporary residents must leave when their time is up. We are focused on bringing in health care workers and tradespeople to help our communities.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, let me answer this question in the preferred language of the member because she seems to be really confused. Our government is laying the foundation of a comprehensive exit-tracking system, one that the Conservatives or anybody could have done over 100 or 200 years ago. However, we are doing that. As we said, temporary resident status is temporary. People are expected to leave when they finish. On this side of the House, we are focused on attracting health care workers and tradespeople to strengthen our rural economies and communities, and we will continue to—

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