CIMM – Committee & Appearance Overview – October 24, 2023
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 (IRCC) and the Immigration and Refugee Board.
Appearance Background
On September 26, 2023, the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM) adopted a motion to hear the Minister’s priorities and objectives and, subsequently, the officials from the Genuine Students Impacted by Fraud Task Force.
IRCC and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officials have been invited to appear during the second panel of this meeting, from 4:30PM to 5:30PM on the Genuine Students Impacted by Fraud Task Force. You and the Minister will be appearing regarding the Minister’s priorities in the first hour.
IRCC officials have been invited to deliver a five-minute opening statement, followed by rounds of questioning from committee members. CBSA officials will not deliver the opening remarks. Due to the recent departmental transition, it is recommended that the following officials appear:
- Christiane Fox, Deputy Minister
- Michèle Kingsley, Assistant Deputy Minister, Economic, Family & Social Migration
One official from CBSA will also appear:
- Aaron McCrorie, Vice-President, Intelligence and Enforcement
Recent Committee Business
Studies
A list of studies the committee has moved to undertake in the 44th Parliament can be found here.
The committee’s ongoing studies are listed below:
- Persons with Temporary Status and Undocumented Individuals
- Closed Work Permits and Temporary Foreign Workers
- Application Backlogs and Processing Times
- Exploitation Scheme Targeting International Students
Reports
A list of reports the committee has presented in the 44th parliament can be found here.
On June 12, 2023, the CIMM committee tabled their 17th report on Bill S-245, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (granting citizenship to certain Canadians). They reported the Bill to the House with amendments.
On May 16, 2023, CIMM tabled their 16th report entitled Asylum-Seekers at Canada's Border.
Environmental Scan
Recent topics of interest include:
Exploitation scheme targeting certain international students
- Defrauded Students
- Update on progress made by the Task Force for Genuine Students Impacted by Fraud
- Prevention and detection of fraud
- Collaboration with other stakeholders (e.g., India, provinces) to prevent fraud
- Update on the International Student Program
- Actions taken for deported students
- Letter of Acceptance Verification Pilot
IRCC’s processing and inventories
- Solutions to address the immigration backlog
The committee has met twice previously in June of 2023 on the topic of the Exploitation Scheme Targeting Certain International Students.
On June 14, IRCC officials answered questions from the committee with typical inquiries focusing on possible deportation of students, measures taken by IRCC to prevent future fraud, processing times for these students, fraudulent consultants, fraudulent admission letters and proactive fraud prevention with other countries and provinces. During that same appearance, the previous IRCC Minister, Sean Fraser, had stated that IRCC was undergoing a ‘’full review of the International Student Program.’’ It is anticipated that an update on this review may be requested.
On June 21, IRCC and CBSA officials offered an MP Technical Briefing on the topic. Along with CSBA, IRCC’s ADM Michèle Kingsley and DG Elizabeth Snow presented the new Task Force for genuine students impacted by fraud and its four-phase timeline. Questions from MPs focused on the topics of timelines for processing and issuance of Temporary Resident Permits to alleviate inadmissibility concerns and transparency. On October 4, IRCC and CBSA provided CIMM with a letter containing a detailed update on the Genuine Students Impacted by Fraud Task Force.
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
Salma Zahid
(Scarborough Centre, ON)
Greg McLean (Calgary Centre, AB)
Paul Chiang (Markham-Unionville, ON)
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Larry Macguire (Brandon-Souris, MB)
Arielle Kayabaga (London West, ON)
Member of LANG
Tom Kmiec (Calgary Shepard, AB)
Shadow Minister for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship; Member of CACN
Shafqat Ali (Brampton Centre, ON)
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
Fayçal El-Khoury (Laval—Les Îles, QC)
Member of the panel of chairs for the legislative committees
Jenny Kwan (Vancouver East, BC)
Caucus Chair; Long-standing Critic for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship; Critic for Housing
Two relevant Departmental Correspondences were received by MP Kwan, and MPs Redekopp and Kmiec.
Conservative Party Of Canada
Party Position
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).
Their priorities include improving settlement support, benefiting from economic immigration through temporary and permanent residents, improving the application and processing system, improving foreign credential recognition, and providing support for refugees.
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.
The party members have recently emphasized the importance of in-person citizenship ceremonies.
CIMM Members
Tom Kmiec
(Calgary Shepard, AB)
Shadow Minister for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Topics of Interest
- Fiscal matters and the economy
- Equalization
- Foreign affairs and international development
- Rare diseases
Brad Redekopp
(Saskatoon West, SK)
Vice-Chair of CIMM; Associate Shadow Minister for Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship
Larry Macguire
(Brandon-Souris, MB)
Greg McLean
(Calgary Centre, AB)
Other Active Members
Pierre-Paul-Hus
(Charlesbourg-Haute-Saint-Charles, QB)
Former Shadow Cabinet Minister for Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Recent Party Activity
- June 19 – CIMM: Inquired if CBSA conducts secondary review of study permits to validate the acceptance letters (Kmiec).
- June 15 – Debates: Accused the Government of Canada of shortcomings and lack of efficiency dealing with the international student scam (Genuis).
- June 14 – CIMM: Questioned if a notice has been sent to the officers who processed the fraudulent student applications (Kmiec).
- June 6 – Oral Questions: Accused the government of incompetence over its handling of the defrauded international students and called for their deportation orders to be stayed (Poilievre).
- June 2 – Oral Questions: Alleged the government issued visas based on “fake college acceptance letters and then tried to punish the victims instead of the scammers,” and suggested that CIMM study the issue (Genuis).
- May 31 – CIMM: Moved a motion that international students who are victims of fraudulent admission letters deserve to be heard and their testimony is of critical importance to a future investigation by this committee, and therefore stays of deportation must be issued for the victims of this fraud until the committee can hear their testimony (Kmiec).
New Democratic Party
Party Position
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) has raised the issue of the exploited international students in both the House of Commons and at the committee. Their position has been that the students should have their deportation orders stayed and be granted a pathway to permanent residency in Canada. MP Kwan has persistently referenced “700” impacted students, and has communicated her concerns to the Minister.
CIMM Member
Jenny Kwan
(Vancouver East, BC)
Caucus Chair; Long-standing Critic for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship; Critic for Housing
Topics of Interest
- Rights, safety and precariousness of Caregivers and other migrant workers
- Processing capacity and backlogs
- Extending the definition of family for reunification
Other Active Members
Alexandre Boulerice
(Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie, QB)
Randall Garrison
(Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke, BC)
Critic for Justice, 2SLGBTQI+ Rights; Deputy Critic for National Defence
Recent Party Activity
- June 19 – CIMM: Inquired on the potential tuition fee increases for international and domestic students (Kwan).
- June 19 – CIMM: Questioned the type of support in place for international students subjected to fraud (Kwan).
- June 19 – CIMM: Inquired if the government should regularize the victims of the student fraud scam to address the situation (Kwan).
- June 14 – CIMM: Inquired if IRCC will ensure an alternate permanent residency pathway for the students victim of fraud (Kwan).
- June 14 – CIMM: Questioned when the new Task Force on students impacted by fraud will begin their work (Kwan).
- June 7– Oral Questions: Raised concerns about international students defrauded by immigration consultants, asked that these students’ deportations be stayed and that they be granted a path to permanent residency (Singh).
- June 7 – Motion: Moved a motion that the House call on the government to immediately stay the deportation of all affected students, waive inadmissibility on the basis of misrepresentation and provide a pathway to permanent residency to the defrauded international students currently facing deportation. This motion was not agreed to unanimously and therefore was not adopted (Singh).
Bloc Québécois
Party Position
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.
CIMM Member
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe
(Lac-Saint-Jean)
Second Vice-Chair of CIMM; Critic for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Human Rights;
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’s interests and protection of the French language
- Human rights conflicts
- Processing delays
- Family reunification
Other Active Members
Yves-François Blanchet
(Beloeil—Chambly, QB)
Leader of the BQ
Alain Therrien
(La Prairie, QB)
House Leader of BQ
Kristina Michaud
(Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QB)
Critic for Climate Change, Youth, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Recent Party Activity
- June 19 – CIMM: Questioned if the Government of Canada was responsible for exacerbating the mental health problems of international students threatened with deportation (Brunelle-Duceppe).
- June 19 – CIMM: Inquired if the issue with study permits can be solved with bilateral discussions between the Canadian and Indian Governments (Brunelle-Duceppe).
- June 19 – CIMM: Noted that cases of student fraud have occurred before with students in Haiti or French-speaking Africa (Brunelle-Duceppe).
- June 14 – CIMM: Inquired on the timeframe for when students victims of fraud will know their true case status (Brunelle-Duceppe).
- June 14 – CIMM: Questioned if there were any specific rules to follow to detect fraud or to detect racism in fraud cases for foreign students (Brunelle-Duceppe).
- June 14 – CIMM: Questioned if immigration consultants who guide students should be subject to more checks by IRCC (Brunelle-Duceppe).
- June 9 – LANG: Noted that many temporary students are turned away in Quebec, and inquired on the reasons for such refusals (Beaulieu).
Liberal Party of Canada
Party Position
Based on a CIMM intervention from MP Dhaliwal, Liberal Party of Canada (LPC) MPs have met on the issue of the exploited international students and are actively working to find a solution, including through dialogue with the Minister.
CIMM Members
Sukh Dhaliwal
(Surrey-Newton, BC)
Chair of CIMM
Topics of Interest
- International Students
- Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship
- Family Reunification
- Settlement and Integration
Shafqat Ali
(Brampton Centre, ON)
SalmaZahid
(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
Paul Chiang
(Markham-Unionville, ON)
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Recent Party Activity
- September 21 – Oral Questions: Expressed the need to work with provinces to make sure international students have proper housing (Minister Miller).
- June 19 – CIMM: Expressed the need for an audit on the exploitation of international students (Sidhu).
- June 19 – CIMM: Inquired on the approach of the new Task Force for distinguishing between genuine misled students and those who purposefully engaged in fraudulent activities (Dhaliwal).
- June 19 – CIMM: Inquired on the information of agents and consultants who were involved in the student fraud incident (Dhaliwal).
- June 19 – CIMM: Questioned if the media report of 700 students victim to fraudulent documents is an accurate number (Ali).
- June 14 – CIMM: Announced a new task force on the current student fraud scam of international students (Minister Fraser).
- June 14 – CIMM: Inquired on what more can be done to help foreign students come to Canada without fear of fraud (Dhaliwal).
- June 5 – CIMM: Highlighted the need for students victim of fraud to have a pathway to permanent residency (Lalonde).
- June 1 – CIMM: Advised that the LPC caucus is aware of the issue of defrauded international students and is actively working to address it (Dhaliwal).
- May 29 – CIMM: Expressed his support of the defrauded students and suggested that government action was likely coming, argued that the number of impacted students was fewer than 700 (Dhaliwal).