Response to Parliamentary Committees and External Audits

Response to Parliamentary Committees

Standing on Guard for Thee: Ensuring that Canada’s Immigration System is Secure

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration undertook a study of the policies and programs in place to ensure the protection of the security and integrity of Canada’s immigration system, including consideration of the Beyond the Border Action Plan and the review of Bill C-31: Protecting Canada’s Immigration System Act, Bill C-43: the Faster Removal of Foreign Criminals Act and Division 16, Part 4 of Bill C-45, the second Budget Implementation Act. The Standing Committee presented its report and 27 recommendations in March 2013.

The recommendations covered issues related to:

• safeguarding the integrity of Canada’s immigration and border management processes;
• enhancing information sharing to support effective immigration screening;
• facilitating legitimate travel while enhancing the health, safety and security of Canadians; and
• maintaining a fair detention and removal system while protecting national security and public safety.

The Government of Canada’s response to the committee report was tabled on June 17, 2013.

Intensifying Strategic Partnerships with the New Brazil

The Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade presented its report on its study of intensifying strategic partnerships with the new Brazil in May 2012. In one of the 10 recommendations of the report, the Committee recommended that the Government of Canada:

• make the necessary policy and program changes to facilitate the 10-year multiple entry visa to be transferable to a new passport of a foreign country that expired within that 10-year period;
• examine the feasibility of increasing resources to the visa and immigration section of the Canadian diplomatic mission in Sao Paulo that is responsible for approving all Brazilian visa applications; and
• immediately assess whether Brazil meets the conditions for visa-exempt travel by Brazilian citizens to Canada.

The Government of Canada’s response to the committee report was tabled on March 7, 2013.

The Future of Canadian Air Travel: Toll Booth or Spark Plug?

The Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications undertook a study on the future of Canadian air travel and tabled a report in June 2012. Of the six recommendations in the report, one recommended that CIC meet with the directors of major Canadian airports and work to establish a full transit visa program for international travellers to connect through Canadian airports.

The Government of Canada’s response to the committee report was tabled on November 8, 2012.

A Study of Electronic Monitoring in the Correctional and Immigration Settings

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security undertook a study of electronic monitoring in correctional and immigration settings and tabled its report in September 2012. The report recommended that the federal government conduct a study into the existing research on the effects of electronic monitoring on pregnant women in the immigration setting.

The Government of Canada’s response to the committee report was tabled on January 29, 2013.

After the Roadmap: Toward Better Programs and Service Delivery

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Official Languages tabled its final report on the Roadmap for Canada’s Linguistic Duality: 2008–2013 in November 2012. Of the 38 recommendations, two recommended that CIC:

• take into consideration the urgent need to recruit specialized health professionals in the Francophone and Anglophone minority health systems, including foreign-trained professionals; and
• inform the Standing Committee on Official Languages of progress toward developing a future strategic plan to promote immigration within Francophone minority communities.

The Government of Canada’s response to the committee report was tabled on March 8, 2013.

Labour and Skills Shortages in Canada: Addressing Current and Future Challenges

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities undertook a study of labour and skills shortages in Canada and tabled its report in December 2012. Four of the 38 recommendations in the report dealt with CIC-related issues, including:

• consulting stakeholders on reforms to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program;
• offering better opportunities for temporary foreign workers to become permanent immigrants;
• reviewing its international recruitment programs; and
• implementing recommendations related to foreign qualification recognition.

The Government of Canada’s response to the committee report was tabled on March 28, 2013.

Response to the Auditor General (including to the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development)

No audit reports concerning CIC were issued by the Office of the Auditor General in 2012–13.

External audits conducted by the Public Service Commission of Canada or the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages

No audit reports concerning CIC were issued by other external assurance providers in 2012–13.