CIMM – Committee & Appearance Overview – February 28, 2024

Committee Mandate

The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM) studies matters related to immigration, citizenship and federal multiculturalism policy.

The committee has oversight of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and the Immigration and Refugee Board.

Appearance Background

On February 12, CIMM adopted the following motion to invite the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship to appear at the committee on February 28, 2024:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee invite the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and the Minister of Housing, Infrastructures and Communities and relevant officials together for two hours or invite the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship with relevant officials for two 90 minutes and the Minister of Housing, Infrastructures and Communities to appear separately with relevant officials for 90 minutes to update the committee on:

1. The work of the taskforce, addressing the exploitation scheme targeting international students as many students are still reporting that they’re in limbo and have not heard back from officials about their status
2. Measures taken by IRCC and institutions to help prevent and protect international students from fraud schemes
3. The justification for the increase of the financial requirements for international students by more than 100% to $20,635
4. The justification for putting a cap on international study permits
5. Plans to address the housing crisis for international students and efforts made to collaborate with provinces, territories and post-secondary institutions
6. The justification for the measure on open work permits for spouses of international students

The Minister and the Minister of Housing, have been invited for a 2-hour meeting, each delivering a 5-minute opening statement, followed by rounds of questioning from committee members. The following officials are recommended to accompany the Minister :

• Harpreet S. Kochhar, Deputy Minister
• Aiesha Zafar, Assistant Deputy Minister, Migration integrity
• Bronwyn May A/Assistant Deputy Minister, Economic, Family & Social Immigration

Recent Committee Business

Studies

A list of studies the committee has moved to undertake in the 44^th Parliament can be found here. Most recently, Persons with Temporary Status and Undocumented Individuals, and Closed Work Permits and Temporary Foreign Workers.

In October 2023, CIMM concluded a study on Exploitation Scheme Targeting International Students.

Reports

A list of reports the committee has presented in the 44^th Parliament can be found here. Most recently, Report 18 - In Demand Yet Unprocessed: Endemic Immigration Backlogs.

Environmental Scan

Recent topics of interest include:

Exploitation Scheme targeting certain international students

• Defrauded Students, Prevention and Detection of fraud
• Update/progress; Task Force for Genuine Students Impacted by Fraud
• Collaboration with stakeholders (e.g. India, provinces) to prevent fraud
• Actions taken for deported students
• Letter of Acceptance Verification Pilot

International Students and Housing

• Cap on international students
• Concerns regarding blaming newcomers for the housing crisis

Committee Membership

Sukh Dhaliwal (Surrey-Newton, BC)
Chair of CIMM

Brad Redekopp (Saskatoon West, SK)
Vice-Chair of CIMM; Associate Shadow Minister for Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship

Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe (Lac-Saint-Jean, QC)
Second Vice-Chair of CIMM; Vice-Chair of SDIR; Critic for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship and Human Rights

Shafqat Ali (Brampton Centre, ON)

Salma Zahid (Scarborough Centre, ON)

Fayçal El-Khoury (Laval—Les Îles, QC)
Member of the panel of chairs for the legislative committees

Arielle Kayabaga (London West, ON)
Member of LANG

Tom Kmiec (Calgary Shepard, AB)
Shadow Minister for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship; Member of CACN

Jenny Kwan (Vancouver East, BC)
Caucus Chair; Long-standing Critic for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship; Critic for Housing

Paul Chiang (Markham-Unionville, ON)
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Larry Maguire (Brandon-Souris, MB)

Greg McLean (Calgary Centre, AB)

A list of relevant departmental correspondence on this topic can be found here.

Conservative Party Of Canada

CIMM Members

Tom Kmiec
(Calgary Shepard, AB)
Shadow Minister for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Larry Maguire
(Brandon-Souris, MB)

Greg McLean
(Calgary Centre, AB)

Brad Redekopp
(Saskatoon West, SK)
Deputy Shadow Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Other Active Members

Pierre-Paul-Hus
(Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC)
Québec Lieutenant; Former Shadow Cabinet Minister for Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

Topics of Interest

• Fiscal matters and the economy
• Equalization
• Foreign affairs and international development
• Rare diseases

Top Party Issues

The Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) outlines their commitments to a non-partisan, welcoming and well-managed immigration system in their Policy Declaration (PDF, 612 KB).

The party has been vocal on the subject of the exploited international students. The party’s position is that the students’ deportation orders should be stayed immediately.

Party members have questioned the decision to place a cap on international student admissions, but have also criticized the lack of housing availability for international students.

Recent Party Activity

• February 8 – Debates: Referred to a briefing note given to the former Minister of IRC warning that temporary immigration programs are putting pressure on the housing system (Kmiec).
• February 8 – Debates: Questioned if consultation took place before placing a cap on foreign students (Kmiec).
• February 5 – CIMM: Said they do not want to shut down immigration, but there needs to be housing (Redekopp).
• December 5 – CIMM: Referenced the Housing Assistance Program as extraordinary, with the excessive number of immigrants coming in without infrastructure to them (McLean).
• October 24 – CIMM: Asked if there is a data-sharing agreement between designated learning institutions and IRCC (Maguire).
• October 24 – CIMM: Asked if all immigration consultants should be registered through the College of Immigration and Citizenship (Maguire).
• October 24 – CIMM: Questioned lack of communication between IRCC and the task force with international students (Redekopp).

New Democratic Party

CIMM Member

Jenny Kwan
(Vancouver East, BC)
Caucus Chair; Long-standing Critic for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship; Critic for Housing

Other Active Members

Alexandre Boulerice
(Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie, QB)
Deputy Leader; Critic for Labour; Deputy Critic for Climate Change, Official Languages

Randall Garrison
(Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke, BC)
Critic for Justice, 2SLGBTQI+ Rights; Deputy Critic for National Defence

Topics of Interest

• Rights, safety and precariousness of Caregivers and other migrant workers
• Processing capacity and backlogs
• Extending the definition of family for reunification
• International Students impacted by Fraud
• Housing

Top Party Issues

The New Democratic Party (NDP) believes that immigrants strengthen our country and more needs to be done to ensure the immigration system is rooted in fairness, respect and dignity.

The New Democratic Party (NDP) have raised the issue of the exploited international students in both the House of Commons and at committee. Their position has been that the students should have their deportation orders stayed and be granted a pathway to permanent residency in Canada.

The NDP has been adamant that immigrants should not be blamed for the housing crisis.

Recent Party Activity

• February 8 – Debates: Accused the government of blaming the victims when blaming immigrants for the housing crisis (Kwan).
• February 8 – Debates: Advocated for full status for international students and workers to minimize exploitation (Kwan).
• February 5 – CIMM: Stated that the crisis the international students have faced as a result of fraud has not yet been resolved (Kwan).
• February 5 – CIMM: Questioned why the task force has not engaged in better communication with students (Kwan).
• February 5 – CIMM: Questioned who will be impacted by the international student cap, and the notion that international students are to be blamed for the housing crisis (Kwan).
• October 31 – Debates: Stated that a proper housing plan should include international students (Kwan).
• October 31 – Debates: Said the federal government has not showed leadership by partnering with provinces, territories and institutions to create a housing plan for international students (Kwan).
• October 24 – CIMM: Raised concerns about work permits and PGWP status for students impacted by fraud (Kwan).

Bloc Québécois

CIMM Member

Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe
(Lac-Saint-Jean)
Second Vice-Chair of CIMM; Critic for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Human Rights;

Other Active Members

Christine Normandin
(Saint-Jean, QC)
Former Critic Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship; BQ Deputy House Leader

Yves-Fran çois Blanchet
(Beloil-Chambly, QC)
BQ Party Leader

Topics of Interest

• Francophone immigration, including international students from French-speaking countries in Africa
• Immigration measures for Afghanistan
• Taking a stand against China in relation to the Uyghur genocide
• Quebec interests and protection of the French language
• Human rights conflicts
• Processing delays
• Family reunification

Top Party Issues

The Bloc Québécois (BQ) prioritizes Francophone immigration to Quebec and ensuring immigration does not contribute to the decline of French in Canada.

The BQ has regularly expressed the need for the federal government to support Quebec in responding to the needs of the high number of asylum seekers in the province.

The Bloc Québécois (BQ) have been vocal on the exploited international students, criticizing the government of Canada for IRCC’s alleged dysfunction with study permits for India, Haiti, and French-speaking Africans.

Recent Party Activity

• February 8 – Debates: Stated that a successful immigration system requires considering integration capacity for health, education, language and housing services (Brunelle-Duceppe).
• February 1 – Debates: Noted that Quebec takes in 45% of asylum seekers but receives under 28% of new investment in temporary housing (Brunelle-Duceppe).
• December 12 – CIMM: Stated newcomers are not to blame for the housing crisis, but they are often the first victims of the housing crisis. He also questioned how the international student cap will work and the logic behind open work permits being available only for spouses of students only at certain levels (Brunelle-Duceppe).
• October 24 – CIMM: Asked how many international students from Quebec were deported as a result of fraud (Brunelle-Duceppe).
• October 24 – CIMM: Inquired about mental health support offered to students who were victims of fraud (Brunelle-Duceppe).
• June 19 – CIMM: Noted cases of student fraud have occurred before with students in Haiti or French-speaking Africa (Brunelle-Duceppe).

Liberal Party of Canada

CIMM Members

Sukh Dhaliwal
(Surrey-Newton, BC)
Chair of CIMM

Shafqat Ali
(Brampton Centre, ON)

Salma Zahid
(Scarborough Centre, ON)

Fayçal El-Khoury
(Laval—Les Îles, QC)
Member of the panel of chairs for the legislative committees

Arielle Kayabaga
(London West, ON)
Previous Member of LANG

Paul Chiang
(Markham-Unionville, ON)
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Topics of Interest

• International Students
• Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship
• Family Reunification
• Settlement and Integration

Party Position

The Liberal Party of Canada (LPC) outlines their immigration commitments in their 2021 Platform.

LPC has defended international students who were victims of fraud and have spoken of the importance to balance immigration needs and housing availability.

Recent Party Activity

• February 8 – Debates: Defended the international student cap as a pause to ensure we are appropriately bringing newcomers into the parts of Canada where they are most needed (Kayabaga).
• February 8 – Debates: Referenced the Housing Accelerator Fund and National Housing Strategy, aimed to increase housing while still welcoming new immigrants (Zahid).
• February 5 – CIMM: Said it is misleading to say immigrants cause the housing shortage (Kayabaga).
• February 5 – CIMM: Argued provinces need to do more to protect international students (Zahid).
• November 3 – Debates: Shared that Canada has a sensible immigration plan that allows for stable growth to balance pressure on housing, infrastructure and essential services (Chiang).
• October 31 – Debates: Noted the need to align immigration priorities with critical services, such as housing and infrastructure (Dhaliwal).
• October 24 – CIMM: Requested information on communication and transfer of information in the IRCC-CBSA task force (Chiang).
• October 24 – CIMM: Asked what the government is doing to counter abusive behavior by bad actors posing as immigration consultants (El-Khoury).
• September 21 – Oral Questions: Expressed the need to work with provinces to ensure international students have proper housing (Minister Miller).
• June 19 – CIMM: Asked how the new Task Force distinguishes between genuine misled students and those who purposefully engaged in fraudulent activities (Dhaliwal).