CIMM - Parliamentary Context - CIMM Ministerial Appearance on the 2020-2021 Mins Estimates and Supplementary Estimates B - Nov 25, 2020

Background and Logistics

On November 6, 2020, the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM) extended an invitation to the Minister to appear on 2020–2021 Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates B on November 25, 2020 from 3:30pm to 5:30pm.

The Committee must report back to the House on the 2020–2021 Main Estimates by November 27 and on the 2020–2021 Supplementary Estimates B by December 10, 2020. Members are equally empowered to consider and report on expenditure plans and priorities for future fiscal years at any such appearance.

With the recent tabling of the Annual Report on Immigration detailing the 2021–2023 Multi-Year Levels Plan on October 30, 2020, and with voted authorities for the Levels included in the 2020–2021 Supplementary Estimates B, it is anticipated that this topic will equally be considered at the upcoming appearance.

The appearance will take place via Zoom videoconference. The Minister will appear for the first hour to provide five-minute remarks and respond to questions, and will be accompanied by IRCC officials, who will stay for the second hour to continue with questions. No opening remarks are required for the second hour. As established by the Committee in the first meeting, rounds of questioning will proceed as follows:

• First round: CPC, LPC, BQ, and NDP (six minutes each)
• Second round: CPC (five minutes), LPC (5), BQ (2.5), NDP (2.5), CPC (5), LPC (5)

Environmental Analysis

Recent interventions and the general interests of parliamentarians related to immigration, refugees and citizenship have been focused on the following topics:

Top Issues

• Family reunification, including spousal sponsorship and parents and grandparents
• Impact of current pandemic on operations levels plan and preparations for future waves
• Admissibility and domestic security
• Francophone immigration
• Hong Kong and Uyghurs, including current gaps in special measures

Other Key Issues

• Refugee claimants working in essential and frontline jobs (“guardian angels”)
• Safe Third Country Agreement and border restrictions, including rapid testing
• Pathways to permanent residence
• International students
• Oath of citizenship
• Temporary Foreign Worker Program and caregiver pilots

All parties are currently vocal on the impact of the pandemic on all processes and streams of immigration, and critical of government processes and policies, including a particular focus on family reunification and spousal sponsorship by all opposition parties. The situation in China and Hong Kong has equally been at front of mind for all parties, including the safety of Canadians abroad, special measures for those fleeing persecution on the basis of the National Security Law and the facilitation of their arrival. Although the media has covered the recently tabled 2021–2023 Multi-Year Levels Plan as being essential to short-term economic recovery and long-term economic growth, parties have questioned the ability to achieve such numbers given recent restrictions in face of the pandemic.

• Top intervention topics for the Conservative Party of Canada have been focused questions of admissibility and security screening upon entering Canada and the process for removals for domestic intimidation by foreign entities. The party is active on border control and family reunification. A recent remark was been made on pending applications predating the pandemic, two-plus year processing time for parents and grandparents, and the need for ready pathways for high-skilled individuals/ essential workers. International students are also a top interest, including the limit on permitted working hours and easing the visa process.
• The Bloc Québécois lines of questioning have recently turned their attention to protecting French language and increasing requirements for newcomers, as well as the limitations of new Hong Kong immigration measures. Previously they centered on asylum seekers who have risked their lives for Quebec seniors (otherwise referred to as guardian angels), specifically the creation of a special program to provide them with permanent residency. Discussions on issuing work permits to international students while they are unable to study has also been raised as well as the need for more funding to speed up processing times and eliminate the backlog.
• Interventions led by the New Democratic Party have recently focused on family reunification and levels. Members have advocated for the creation of a special temporary residence visa for those with spousal sponsorship in place, similar to that of the parents and grandparents super visa. Recently, the timeliness of extended family applications has been front of mind, as well as the narrow definition of family. When speaking of IRCC’s levels, MP Kwan recently indicated that "to suggest that somehow these levels numbers will become reality, they are absolutely being delusional with those targets." The party supports the notion of migrants receiving landed status on arrival, and is concerned that Canada is at risk of losing out on top talent from international students that cannot get the pathway to permanent residency.
• Top intervention topics for the Liberal Party of Canada have been focused on the unique circumstances faced by the immigration system in light of the pandemic, continued operations for economic recovery, as well as digitization and transformation of services.