Response to Parliamentary Committees
Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM)
Report 19 - Processing Times for Permanent Residence Pathways for Hong Kong Residents
This report acknowledges that the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration committee has received correspondence from the President of Canada-Hong Kong Link, Andy Wong; requesting that it express its deep concern at the unreasonable delays being imposed on Hong Kong Pathway applicants of up to 21 months; that over 8,000 applications are still waiting to be processed; that Hong Kongers in Canada are freedom-loving people and keeping them in limbo is wrong; that the committee call on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to immediately automatically renew open work permits and study permits for Hong Kongers as they wait for their permanent resident application to be processed; that this matter be reported to the House; and pursuant to Standing Order 109, that the government provide a comprehensive response.
IRCC has introduced dedicated pathways for Hong Kong residents and is committed to being facilitative in cases where Hong Kong residents may face barriers in the immigration process. The Government of Canada strongly prioritizes upholding human rights and the rule of law, both domestically and internationally, and continues to closely monitor the situation in Hong Kong.
Standing Committee on Official Languages (LANG)
The Standing Committee on Official Languages undertook a study on “the challenges and opportunities associated with increasing Francophone immigration as well as settlement services needs across Canada.” The three preliminary objectives for this study were to: 1) examine the consular services needed abroad to support immigrants from Francophone countries, notably Africa, as well as the services to be implemented across Canada to achieve the previously set goals for Francophone immigration; 2) examine the resources and supports needed for settlement services across Canada to ensure successful economic and social integration of Francophone immigrants and sustainable development of Francophone communities; and 3) propose a plan, including a deadline, to improve the approval rate for applications from French-speaking immigrants, considering the economic impact of this increase.
This report summarizes the main ideas emerging from the testimony the Committee heard over the course of its study. The recommendations draw from the evidence to guide the Government of Canada in increasing francophone immigration at a time when Francophone minority communities (FMCs) are experiencing labour shortages in several vital sectors.
The Government has carefully reviewed the Committee’s recommendations on Francophone immigration and is committed to ensuring they are taken into account, especially as part of the modernized Official Languages Act (OLA), which received royal assent on June 20, 2023, and IRCC’s Policy on Francophone Immigration, launched in January 2024. Additionally, the “Francophone immigration” pillar in the Action Plan for Official Languages 2023–2028: Protection-Promotion-Collaboration (the 2023–2028 Action Plan) supports the implementation of immigration-related provisions of the modernized OLA. The 2023-2028 Action Plan invests $137.2 million over five years to support seven targeted initiatives that will strengthen IRCC’s work across the immigration continuum, from promotion to selection and settlement in FMCs. These initiatives include the renewal and expansion of the Welcoming Francophone Communities Initiative and the Francophone Immigration Support Program.
Response to External Audits
Response to audits conducted by the Office of the Auditor General of Canada (including audits conducted by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development)
Office of the Auditor General - 2023–24 Consolidated Financial Statements of The Government of Canada
This commentary report includes the Auditor General’s observations on significant findings identified as part of the Audit of the Government of Canada’s Consolidated Financial Statements, for which Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) was a stakeholder. The audit focused on personnel expenses, pension and other future benefits transactions during the fiscal year 2023–24. There were no recommendations for IRCC.
Office of the Auditor General - Report 5 - Audit of Professional Services Contracts
The objective of the audit was to determine whether professional services contracts were awarded to McKinsey & Company in accordance with applicable policies (procurement compliance) and whether value for money for those contracts was obtained. The audit covered the period from 1 January 2011 to 30 September 2023. The audit assessed whether the awarding and management of professional services contracts complied with applicable procurement policy instruments. IRCC was included in the audit based on two competitive contracts (with a combined value of $24,548,250) that the Department awarded, and which met the Office of the Auditor General of Canada’s scope.
The audit resulted in one recommendation related to the monitoring and enforcement of conflicts of interest of officials involved in the procurement process. The Department agreed with the recommendation and has implemented requirements to strengthen proactive conflict of interest declarations. The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat also agreed with the recommendation and confirmed that new mandatory procedures will be included in the Directive on the Management of Procurement to provide an additional check and balance for public service managers and ensure they are clear about their responsibilities and accountabilities when undertaking professional services procurement activities.
Response to audits conducted by the Public Service Commission of Canada or the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages
Public Service Commission of Canada - Audit on the Application of the Order of Preference for Veterans During the Data Transfer Outage Between the Department of National Defence and the Public Service Commission of Canada
This audit was undertaken to examine the impact of a technical issue related to the data transfer process that occurred between November 13, 2020, and January 19, 2024. The issue may have led to a number of veterans not being properly identified for preference in the Public Service Resourcing System. The audit’s objective was to determine whether the order of preference was applied for veterans who were eligible for preference at the time of appointment but whose names and service numbers were not included in the Public Service Resourcing System due to the data transfer outage. The audit gathered information through a questionnaire sent to 63 departments and agencies. There were no recommendations for IRCC.
Public Service Commission of Canada - Audit of Employment Equity Representation in Acting Appointments
This audit was undertaken to examine trends in the representation of designated employment equity groups in acting federal public service appointments as well as organizational staffing practices related to employment equity. The audit had three objectives to determine: whether the four designated employment equity groups are proportionately represented in acting appointments; what systems and practices departments and agencies have in place to promote access to appointments for employment equity groups; and the extent to which hiring managers consider employment equity when making acting appointments.
The audit resulted in three recommendations, two of which were directed to the deputy heads of all organizations included in the audit. The two recommendations focused on monitoring of acting appointments to avoid disadvantaging employment equity groups, and implementing measures to improve representation in acting appointments to positions in the Technical occupational category.
The Department agreed with both recommendations and has fully implemented several monitoring activities and measures to improve representation.