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Business of Supply

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 .

Official text

462 statements

Lena Metlege Diab

Liberal

Linked statement

“I do not know who the member is talking about. In 2024, we made international students show they have more money to study here, and we update that amount every September.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, I am not sure to whom he is referring. In 2024, we raised the financial requirements for all international students coming to Canada to study, and those are adjusted every year in September as well.

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Harb Gill

Conservative
“Extortion cases in Canada have gone up about 330% since 2015. I want the minister to admit that her failure to do basic security checks has put people in danger and cost them their lives and businesses.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, extortion cases across Canada have jumped roughly 330% since 2015. Did it ever occur to the minister that her lack of basic security checks have caused a major public disaster? Some people have lost their lives, and many their livelihoods, because of her inaction.

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Lena Metlege Diab

Liberal
“Our immigration department screens everyone who applies to come to Canada to work, study, or live here permanently.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, IRCC initially screens each applicant when they apply for a visa or an electronic travel authorization document, whether it is for work, for study or for permanent residency.

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Harb Gill

Conservative
“Canadians were told the government was letting in skilled workers and students. Instead, our communities are dealing with organized crime and fraud. I want to know if the minister knows who she is letting into the country.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, Canadians were told that foreign students and skilled workers were being let in. Instead, our communities are now dealing with organized extortion rings, fraud networks and intimidation. Is it fair to say that the minister has no idea what she is doing or who she is letting into the country?

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Lena Metlege Diab

Liberal
“We have strong rules to protect our system. Trained immigration officers review everyone who applies to come to Canada.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, let us calm down here a little bit. We have integrity measures. We have strengthened all of the measures. We are working diligently. Everyone who applies to Canada is assessed by trained immigration officers.

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Harb Gill

Conservative
“The news reported for months that gangs were threatening and extorting immigrant communities. The minister did not act. Is her department embarrassed by this?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, the media knew for months that gangs were targeting immigrant communities with threats and extortion. Local newspapers were more aware of the danger than the minister was. Is the minister’s department embarrassed by her lack of action?

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Lena Metlege Diab

Liberal
“We check everyone who wants to come to Canada. Border officials remove serious criminals who have no right to be here, and we work with the police and the RCMP.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, we screen every applicant who is coming to Canada, regardless of the reason they are coming. CBSA removes serious criminals who have no right to be here. We work with policing. We work with RCMP—

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Kelly DeRidder

Conservative
“A man in my riding was convicted of violent crime and has no legal status, but he is still in Canada. I want the minister to explain why violent criminals with no legal status are allowed to stay here.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, there was a woman in my riding, who immigrated in 2020. After she separated from her husband, he strangled her in front of their daughter and was found guilty. He remains in Canada, free, without a valid work permit, illegally. How does this minister allow violent criminals who have no legal status to remain in Canada?

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Lena Metlege Diab

Liberal
“Serious crimes deserve serious punishments. Immigration law does not give anyone special treatment or easy penalties.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, serious offences like this deserve serious consequences. The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act does not include anything on special treatment or leniency for—

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Kelly DeRidder

Conservative
“A person without legal status allegedly strangled someone. I want to know why the minister has not removed them from Canada.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, there has been no action. She was strangled. He did it. He allegedly has no legal status. Why does the minister not hold these people accountable and remove them from Canada?

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Lena Metlege Diab

Liberal
“Public safety is very important in Canada. Judges and courts are the ones who enforce the law.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, public safety is of paramount importance in Canada. Obviously, it is the courts and the judges that apply the law.

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Kelly DeRidder

Conservative
“If safety is so important, why is this person still allowed to stay in Canada?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, if public safety is so incredibly important, why does he remain in Canada?

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Lena Metlege Diab

Liberal
“Border officials deport criminals after they are sentenced. If the court gives them the right sentence, we remove them.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, criminals are deported by the CBSA after sentencing occurs. If they are sentenced appropriately, action is taken.

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Lena Metlege Diab

Liberal
“I cannot talk about a specific case tonight. I will only say that serious crimes deserve serious consequences.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, again, I cannot speak to any specific case because that is not my role here tonight. What I can say and reconfirm is that serious crime deserves serious consequences.

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Kelly DeRidder

Conservative
“The minister will not talk about this woman's case. What message does it send to women when the minister does not protect them in her own system?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, I will be sure to tell her that you cannot speak on her specific case as the Minister of Immigration for Canada. What message is the minister sending to this woman and other women like her when she does not protect them within her own system?

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Lena Metlege Diab

Liberal
“Our immigration law does not cover this kind of treatment. We take all crimes seriously, and border officers deport people when needed.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act does not include anything on this type of treatment. We treat all offences seriously. The CBSA deports individuals as needed.

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Kelly DeRidder

Conservative
“If the government takes these cases seriously, why is this man still free in Canada without a valid permit to scare this woman? Why is he still in the country?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, if these cases are treated seriously, why does he remain free, without a valid permit, to terrorize her in Canada? Why is he in Canada?

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Lena Metlege Diab

Liberal
“If a non-citizen in Canada commits a crime, border services will investigate them. Other issues should go to local police and the courts.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, if there is a non-Canadian in Canada who has committed an offence, the Canada Border Services Agency will investigate. If there are other reasons, I would suggest provincial policing partners as well as the courts.

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Lena Metlege Diab

Liberal
“Serious crimes deserve serious punishment. Canada's border agency investigates all of these cases and takes proper action.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, serious crime deserves serious consequences. The CBSA investigates all these cases and takes appropriate action.

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Lena Metlege Diab

Liberal
“Canada's border agency removed more than 23,000 people who were not allowed in the country last year.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, as my colleague, the Minister of Public Safety, said today, the Canada Border Services Agency removed over 23,000 inadmissible people last year.

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