Opening Remarks for The Honourable Marco E.L. Mendicino, M.P., P.C., Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration – June 13 2020

Supplementary Estimates (A) and Second Interim Supply

Ottawa, Ontario
June 13, 2020

Thank you, Madame Chair and members of the committee.

Let me first acknowledge that this committee gathers on the traditional territory of the Algonquin Nation.

I am pleased to appear before today to discuss priorities and expenditures in my department, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

IRCC works across various lines of business to maintain a well-managed immigration system that attracts skilled workers, contributes to our communities and ensures the safety and security of Canadians.

As we’re all aware, the spread of COVID-19 has transformed priorities across all government departments and agencies. In the face of so many new and unexpected challenges, IRCC continues to provide much needed assistance to many vulnerable groups.

The pandemic has exposed fragilities in our system, to which our department has responded quickly, with flexibility and innovation.

For example, from the earliest days of the pandemic’s arrival in Canada, food supply became a top issue.

Canadians expressed genuine concern for the quality and availability of food.

Temporary Foreign Workers are an essential component in the production and distribution of Canada’s food supply and we have taken action to support this vulnerable community.

IRCC continues to process work permit applications and has prioritized resources towards in-demand occupations like health care, agriculture, food, and seafood production. 

We have put measures in place to address the needs of temporary workers who were already in Canada and who have been impacted by COVID-19, including extending timelines for submitting documents and restoring status.

Under a new a process, temporary workers who are in Canada with an employer-specific work permit are able to quickly change employers when they find a new job.

In addition, to support the Canadian agricultural and agri-food sector, seasonal agricultural worker applicants are able to give their biometrics on arrival at specific Canadian ports of entry.

Like all travelers to Canada, temporary foreign workers must follow orders made under the Quarantine Act, including the current requirement to quarantine upon arrival into Canada. And every worker has a right to a healthy workplace.

Earlier this spring, we announced $50 million to help all food production and processing employers put in place the measures necessary to follow the mandatory 14-day quarantine period required of all workers arriving from abroad.

The government also implemented new regulations, which compel employers to meet new requirements to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Employers who do not comply could be subject to a range of penalties. Service Canada is conducting inspections to verify employer compliance and to date, almost 600 inspections have been initiated related to the new COVID-19 requirements for employers.

We also know that COVID-19 presented even more challenges for asylum seekers in Canada, especially those in need of housing.

IRCC’s 2020-21 Supplementary Estimates (A) include a proposed $102.5 million re-profile from the previous fiscal year for the Interim Housing Assistance Program.

This program allows the federal government to provide much needed assistance to provinces and municipalities as they address extraordinary interim housing pressures.

Specifically, these funds will be used to conclude funding arrangements with the City of Toronto and Province of Quebec for costs associated with asylum claimants in 2019.

In closing, Madame Chair, let me emphasize that, even as it continues to evolve, the pandemic to date has taught us a lot, including the pressing need to modernize our processing.

We have taken the opportunity to leverage technology, to better serve our clients.

So, as we continue to innovate our processes and policies, our progress continues towards our fundamental objective, which is to continue to grow our country through immigration.

Thank you. I look forward to your questions.