Appearance before the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM) - February 22, 2021

​​Hong Kong Study

Monday, February 22, 2021

3:30 pm

Table of Contents

​

​​Opening remarks for CIMM appearance February 22, 2021

Introduction

  • Thank you, Madame Chair.
  • I am joined today by Ms. Heather Primeau, Director General, Strategic Direction and Corporate Affairs.
  • I would like to start by thanking the committee for the opportunity to speak with you today.

Overview of the IRB

  • Before jumping into the issue at hand, I would like to provide you with a brief overview of the Immigration and Refugee Board (or the IRB)'s mandate.
  • For those of you less familiar with the IRB, we are Canada's largest independent administrative tribunal. Our mandate is to make well-reasoned decision on immigration and refugee matters fairly, efficiently and in accordance with the law.
  • The IRB is made up of four separate tribunals, known as “Divisions” – the Refugee Protection Division, the Refugee Appeal Division, the Immigration Division and the Immigration Appeal Division.
  • It is the Refugee Protection Division (or RPD) that is responsible for hearing and deciding claims for refugee protection made in Canada.
  • In keeping with our international legal obligations, as implemented through the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, RPD decision-makers decide who is a Convention refugee or a person in need of protection.
  • In rendering decisions, RPD decision-makers take into account whether an individual has a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, political opinion, nationality, or membership in a particular social group.
  • Decisions are made based on the merits of the specific facts presented in an individual case, and in accordance with Canada's immigration laws.
  • The IRB's role within Canada's refugee determination system, then, is to make decisions which conform to Canada's laws. It is not responsible for developing Canada's policies and priorities as they relate to immigration and refugee matters. This is the responsibility of Canada's Department of Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship.

Hong Kong

  • The IRB recognizes that its decisions are always life-changing, impacting the lives and security of individuals who appear before it.
  • To provide fair and efficient adjudicative justice, the IRB regularly monitors conditions in refugee-producing countries.
  • The IRB has a world-class research directorate that produces National Documentary Packages (NDPs) on all countries from which the IRB receives claims, including Hong Kong. The NDPs comprehensively cover the human rights situation in the country, are updated regularly, and are publicly available.
  • Based on the IRB's monitoring activities, all refugee claims from Hong Kong are currently being actively examined and case management strategies are being utilized to promote their efficient determination.
  • Namely, claims from Hong Kong have been identified for triage as part of the IRB's Task Force on Less Complex Claims.
  • This means that, based on current country conditions, the IRB has identified claims made by Hong Kong nationals as suitable to be decided without a hearing or with a short-hearing, if there are only one or two key determinative issues to be resolved.
  • If there are more complicated questions of credibility or identity, then such cases will not be able to be addressed as a less complex claim and will be decided with a regular hearing.
  • This type of case management strategy is in keeping with the IRB's past response relying on its knowledge of country conditions and claim types.
  • Such strategies increase the efficiency of the refugee determination system by allocating an amount of preparation and hearing room time that is proportionate to the complexity of each unique claim.
  • From January 1, 2020 to February 19, 2021 the RPD finalized 28 asylum claims from residents of Hong Kong with less than 20 claims still pending.

Foreign convictions

  • In the context of today's sessions, it is worth briefly examining what the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act says about criminality.
  • A foreign national may be inadmissible to Canada on the grounds of criminality.
  • However, foreign convictions are examined to see whether they would be considered offences under Canadian laws if they had occurred in Canada.
  • If there is no equivalent offence, the individual would be deemed admissible to Canada and able to make a refugee claim. For example, as there is no equivalent offence in Canada for participating in a peaceful protest, a charge or conviction for having partaken in such activities in a foreign country would not make an individual inadmissible to Canada.

Conclusion

  • In concluding, I would like to emphasize the fact that the IRB takes its responsibility to render all decisions fairly, consistently, and efficiently very seriously.
  • This extends to ensuring that it continuously monitors country conditions to ensure that each and every person claiming refugee status in Canada has access to meaningful adjudicative justice.
  • The Board's mandate plays an important role in upholding Canadians' confidence in our immigration and refugee determination systems and as such contributes to the strength and diversity of our nation.
  • Madame Chair, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today; my colleague Ms. Primeau and I will be pleased to answer any questions that Committee members may have.

Hong Kong

Key messages – Hong Kong

  • The Immigration and Refugee Board is an independent administrative tribunal that makes decisions in accordance with the law on certain immigration and refugee matters.
  • Each refugee claim is unique and must be determined on its individual merits, free from external interference.  IRB board members are independent and render decisions based on the information before them, in accordance with Canada's immigration laws.
  • The IRB regularly monitors conditions in refugee-producing countries. In making its decisions, the IRB takes into account whether an individual has a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, political opinion, nationality, or membership in a particular social group.
  • All refugee claims from residents of Hong Kong that were determined eligible by the CBSA or IRCC and referred to the Board for a decision were either finalized or are currently being actively examined.
  • The IRB has identified them for triage as part of the Task Force on Less Complex Claims.
  • This means these claims are examined based on country conditions, to see if they can be resolved without a hearing or through a shorter hearing, if there are only one or two key determinative issues to be resolved.
  • If there are more complicated questions of credibility or identity, then such cases will not be able to be addressed as a less complex claim.
  • It is important to note that no claim is denied without a hearing. 
  • For reasons of privacy, the IRB can neither confirm nor deny whether any individual has sought asylum in Canada.

If pressed on statistics:

  • From January 1, 2021 to date, the RPD has finalized 28 asylum claims from residents of Hong Kong. Fewer than 20 claims are still pending.
  • To ensure security of individuals who may be in need of protection, to protect privacy and to comply with Treasury Board guidance, the IRB cannot break those statistics down further at this time.   

Key questions and answers

  1. Why are refugees from Hong Kong not able to apply for protection from a third country?
    • The IRB only has jurisdiction to adjudicate refugee claims and appeals made within Canada.  Responsibility for selecting refugees who are outside Canada rests with IRCC.
    • The Refugee Protection Division (RPD) determines refugee protection claims made in-Canada which must first be determined eligible by either the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) or the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), and then referred to the IRB.
    • IRCC is responsible for Canada's policies related to immigration and refugee matters.
  2. Given current border measures, how can a resident of Hong Kong seek protection in Canada if they cannot claim from a third country?
    • The IRB only has jurisdiction to adjudicate refugee claims made within Canada. IRCC is responsible for Canada's policies related to immigration and refugee matters, including responsibility for selecting refugees who are outside Canada.
  3. What additional measures could the IRB put in place?
    • All outstanding in-Canada refugee claims from Hong Kong that have been referred to the Board are currently being actively examined and the Board has identified claims from Hong Kong for triage as part of the Task Force on Less Complex Claims.
    • The Immigration and Refugee Board is an independent administrative tribunal that makes decisions in accordance with the law on certain immigration and refugee matters.The IRB does not have authorities under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to create programs for refugees.
    • Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has the overall responsibility for immigration and refugee matters. IRCC also determines the eligibility of refugee protection claims made in Canada and refers eligible claims to the IRB for a decision.
  4. Given the existing backlog of refugee cases, how is the IRB getting ready for an expected influx of claims?
    • Recent investments made by the Government of Canada have provided the IRB with additional capacity to address the recent surge in asylum claims.  This funding has allowed the Board to essentially double its staff and number of adjudicators in three years and slow the growth of the refugee claims inventory and wait times from where they would otherwise be.
    • Currently, the IRB is funded to process 50,000 refugee claims and 13,500 appeals per year.
    • The impact of pandemic-related border measures have depressed intake volumes since March 2020, allowing the Board to continue to make progress against addressing backlogs, despite the operational challenges caused by the pandemic. The IRB also continues to plan and implement innovative operational strategies from processing, resourcing and administrative perspectives to address the backlog. 
  5. What is the status of [blank] case/ Can you confirm if this case has or will be approved?
    • The IRB cannot confirm or deny whether any person has made a refugee claim.   
    • This is not only to respect the privacy rights of such persons (we have a responsibility to safeguard such information, if not also a duty of care) but also and especially in the case of persons seeking refugee protection, to mitigate any risks to that person, noting that they are seeking protection and may be fleeing agents of persecution from their country of origin.
  6. Will residents of Hong Kong who are arrested, detained or imprisoned under the NSL be inadmissible?
    • Refugee claimants who have been detained, charged or convicted in Hong Kong for politically motivated reasons will not generally be excluded from refugee protection in Canada. Section 98 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act only excludes refugee claimants from obtaining refugee protection if they have committed serious non-political crimes, war crimes, or crimes against humanity outside Canada.
    • The RPD and the RAD will always be required to make decisions on a case-by-case basis and with the most up-to-date evidence available.
    • Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, foreign nationals who have committed, been charged with, or convicted of a crime may be found to be inadmissible to Canada if that crime is also a crime under Canadian law.  Inadmissibility decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.
    • Foreign convictions are examined to see whether they would have been an offence under Canadian laws if they had occurred in Canada. If there is no equivalent offence, the individual would not be inadmissible for having committed or being convicted for that offence. For example, as there is no equivalent offence in Canada for participating in a peaceful protest, a charge or conviction for having partaken in such activities would not make an individual inadmissible to Canada. But again, all decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.
  7. How does the IRB work with CBSA and IRCC? How is information shared between these organizations?
    • The IRB decides, among other responsibilities, who needs refugee protection among the thousands of claimants who come to Canada annually. The IRB reports to Parliament through the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, but the IRB remains independent from IRCC and the Minister.
    • Both the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) determine the eligibility of all refugee protection claims made in Canada and refer eligible claims to the IRB for a decision.
    • IRCC and CBSA refer cases to the IRB and IRB decisions are shared with CBSA both electronically by virtue of our case management system interfaces and/or through fax, email or regular mail depending on the circumstances.
    • Going forward, all three departments have committed to enhance system interfaces and further exchange information electronically.
  8. How long was the Board not processing files during the pandemic and how did this impact the backlog of cases?
    • COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the IRB's operations, including the postponement of all refugee hearings from mid-March to early summer 2020. However, during this period, decision-makers continued to work on written decisions for claims that were recently heard, as well as less-complex claims, which can be determined without a hearing.
    • In parallel, the Board put in rigorous health and safety measures, which were assessed by the Public Health Agency of Canada as being robust in mitigating the risk of COVID-19 infection and transmission. 
    • This enabled the IRB to resume in-person operations in summer 2020.  At the same time, the Board accelerated various digital initiatives to facilitate the sharing of electronic information with parties, while also piloting and eventually expanding the use of remote (virtual) hearings across all divisions.
    • As of January 18, 2021, the Board moved to a remote-only hearings approach, with only urgent and particularly sensitive cases considered for in-person hearings on an exceptional, case-by-case basis.
    • Despite the pandemic, this fiscal year the Board has already finalized some 25,000 refugee claims and appeals, and more than 6,000 immigration-related decisions.
    • The impact of pandemic-related border measures have depressed intake volumes since March 2020, which has allowed the Board to reduce the backlog of refugees despite the operational challenges caused by the pandemic.
    • As of January 2021, the number of refugee claims pending was close to 78,500 down from 92,000 claims in April 2020. 

Task force for less complex claims and previous initiatives

Key messages

  • The Task Force for Less Complex Claims was established as part of efforts to increase productivity and introduce innovative case management approaches in the Refugee Protection Division.
  • The Task Force's mandate is to focus on claims that lend themselves to quicker resolution through paper-based or short-hearing decisions.
  • Claims from Hong Kong have been identified for triage under the Less Complex Claims initiative.
  • It's important to note that while there are streamlined processes in place, no refugee claim is denied without a hearing. 

If Pressed on Previous Initiatives

  • In the past, expedited processes have also been utilized where there was little or no confusion about the human rights conditions in-country, where claims were well documented and where the identity of the claimants was reliably established.
  • These are also the criteria used to determine if a claim is appropriate to be considered by the Task Force on Less Complex Claims.
  • For example, the Policy on the Expedited Processing of Claims was the mechanism through which Syrian refugee claims were processed, and this mechanism was very similar to our current Task Force on Less Complex Claims.

General principles under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and IRB policies on processing of/prioritizing claims

Key messages

  • The IRB is governed by core principles of fairness, efficiency, integrity, and institutional independence, set out in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
  • The IRB regularly monitors conditions in refugee-producing countries. When making decisions, the Board always take into account whether an individual has a fear of persecution either based on race, religion, political opinion, nationality, or membership in a particular social group.
  • IRB decisions are made by an independent decision-maker in accordance with the law, based on the merits of the specific facts presented in an individual case.

How criminality is generally assessed for refugee claims

Key messages

  • In general, refugee claimants who have been detained, charged or convicted in Hong Kong for politically motivated reasons will not be excluded from protection in Canada.
  • The RPD and the RAD will always be required to make decisions on a case-by-case basis and with the most up-to-date evidence available.
  • Foreign convictions are always examined to see whether they would have been an offence under Canadian laws.
  • If there is no equivalent offence in Canada, the individual would not be inadmissible for having committed or being convicted of that offence. 
  • For example, a charge or conviction for participating in a peaceful protest would not on its own make an individual inadmissible to Canada.

IRB response to COVID-19

Key messages

  • The Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB or the Board) has responded to the pandemic by balancing the health and safety of staff and those who appear before the Board with the need to provide access to justice.
  • The Board has put in place numerous health and safety measures, which were assessed by Public Health Agency of Canada as being robust in mitigating the risk of COVID-19 infection and transmission. 
  • The Board has also undertaken a range of initiatives to resume operations and re-establish its productivity, including moving to remote operations and remote hearings. 
  • As of January 18, 2021, all hearings are carried out remotely, with only urgent and particularly sensitive cases considered for in-person hearings on a case-by-case basis.
  • Despite the pandemic, this fiscal year the Board has already finalized some 25,000 refugee claims and appeals, and more than 6,000 immigration-related decisions. The Board remains committed to providing fair and efficient adjudication of refugee and immigration matters.

If pressed on the number of COVID cases on IRB premises

  • As of February 18, 2021, there has been a total of 37 IRB personnel, contractors or stakeholders who have tested positive for COVID-19 since March 2020. Of those, 24 were on IRB premises.
  • To date, there has been no evidence of on-site transmission in any of these cases.
  • In all instances, local health authorities were notified immediately, and the Board followed all advice provided. Local health agencies determined that there was a low risk of transmission given the robust measures the Board has put in place in consultation with stakeholders and the Public Health Agency of Canada.

If pressed on use of special leave with pay (699)

  • The IRB has followed Treasury Board guidelines with respect to the use of leave. Since November 9, 2020, employees have been required to draw on their relevant paid leave credits such as family-related leave, or vacation leave, where applicable, and to consider alternate work arrangements, prior to accessing 699 leave.

Background

Health and safety measures in place

  • In response to the pandemic, the Immigration and Refugee Board put in place extensive and rigorous health and safety measures at all IRB premises, which have represented major changes to our procedures.
  • The Board developed detailed health and safety protocols for each office:
  • identifying the maximum occupancy for each floor of its buildings;
  • establishing cleaning and hygiene practices;
  • determining protocols for physical distancing in its hearing rooms and offices including the installation of plexi-glass; and,
  • reviewing ventilation standards, including testing air quality in its buildings.

Contingency planning

  • In addition to remote hearings, the Board launched an aggressive contingency strategy to scan existing case files across all divisions, which will further the Board's digital agenda and reduce the need to access paper files in the event of further lock downs and building closures due to the pandemic or otherwise.
  • The Immigration and Refugee Board has also recently expanded the digital exchange of information (email, epost, ePortal).

Workforce availability

  • With IT infrastructure investments (VPN) and the issuance of laptops (over 300), the IRB workforce available went from 78% (1265 FTEs) in May, to 87% in June (1420) to over 99% in October (1627.5 FTEs). Since January 2021, 699 leave taken to date added up to a total of approximately 2.5 full time equivalents. In other words, approximately 99.8% of all IRB staff were available so far this year. The majority of hours taken as 699 leave were for family related reasons.    
  • As per Treasury Board guidelines issued on November 9, 2020, employees have been required to draw on their relevant paid leave credits such as family-related leave, or vacation leave, where applicable and to consider alternate work arrangements, prior to accessing 699 leave.

Key statistics

COVID-19 cases related to the Board's operations

  • As of February 18, 2021, there has been a total of 37 IRB personnel, contractor or stakeholder's who have tested positive for COVID-19 since March 2020. Of those, 24 were onsite.
  • In all instances, local health authorities were notified immediately, and the IRB followed all advice provided. Local health agencies determined that there was a low risk of transmission given the robust measures the IRB has put in place in consultation with stakeholders and the Public Health Agency of Canada.
  • Thorough details concerning the health and safety measures in place in our buildings are available to the public on the IRB's website.

Member biographies

CIMM Appearance on Hong Kong

February 22, 2021

The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM)

Bloc Québécois (BQ)

Christine Normandin - Second Vice-Chair, Critic for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

New Democratic Party (NDP)

Jenny Kwan - Critic for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Conservative Party of Canada (CPC)

Jasraj Singh Hallan - Vice-Chair, Shadow Minister for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Kyle Seeback

Dean Allison

Bob Saroya

Liberal Party of Canada (LPC)

Soraya Martinez Ferrada - Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Salma Zahid - Chair

Hon. Geoff Regan

Sukh Dhaliwal

Anju Dhillon

Marc Serré

Christine Normandin (Saint-Jean, QC)

Critic for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Second Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration

About

Christine Normandin is a proud Johannaise with a B.A. in biomedical sciences who became a lawyer specialized in international family and child abduction law.

MP Normandin is the Deputy House Leader of the Bloc Quebecois, Critic for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship and is a member of multiple Parliamentary Associations and Interparliamentary Groups.

Immigration topics of interest

  • Refugees working in essential and frontline jobs
  • Reduce processing times for family reunification
  • Strengthening border security due to COVID-19
  • Protect French language and interests of Quebec
  • Help farmers and facilitate the arrival of temporary foreign workers and seasonal workers
  • More flexibility for the foreign worker program
  • Improve the processing of immigration files
  • End Roxham Road

Parliamentary interventions

MP Normandin recently showed her support for the Minister immediately granting citizenship to Badawi. She also stated support for amending the citizenship oath and has heavily criticized the government on how they've implemented the calls to action.

MP Normandin has criticized the immigration application process and its impacts on those working frontline jobs, international students, as well as family reunification.

Social media presence

MP Normandin's Twitter account is used quite actively to share views on immigration. Recent posts have been focused on Badawi, processing delays, Uyghurs, COPR and irregular migration:

  • Feb. 11 – If there's one thing the immigration portfolio isn't short on, it's problems. And the constant among all those problems is the delays. Article
  • Feb. 3 – Should people who have been issued a COPR/CDRP be exempt from travel restrictions? Absolutely. They are residents, but for a single formality. They have left everything behind: sold their home, left their job, taken the children out of school. Inhuman. 
  • Jan. 27 – Unanimously passed—@yfblanchet's motion to ask Minister @marcomendicino to grant citizenship to @raif_badawi! Incredible news!
  • Jan. 10 – “How many are crossing over at Roxham Road?” “Refugees cost way too much!” Excellent report, and humanizing by necessity. To debunk the myths. To show the people and the stories behind the numbers, the totals, the statistics.
  • Nov. 16 – In order to welcome Hong Kong nationals, Ottawa must ignore their arrests for protesting. If it's not a crime here, it doesn't count. Organizing a referendum isn't a crime here, yet we're refusing to issue an eTA to @KRLS. Double standard? #whatsgoodforthegoose

Jenny Kwan (Vancouver East, BC)

Critic for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

About

Jenny Kwan was born in Hong Kong and immigrated to Canada at a young age through an extended family reunification stream. For over 28 years, she has fought for the people of East Vancouver.

MP Kwan is a long-standing Critic for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship and was formally Critic for Multiculturalism.

Immigration topics of interest

  • Privacy concerns over VFS Global contract at VACs
  • Need for a special Hong Kong refugee stream
  • Extending the definition of family for reunification
  • Conditions and safety of temporary foreign workers
  • Caregivers rights and pathways, including family
  • Permanent residence on arrival for workers
  • Parents and Grandparents lottery system
  • Adequate housing availability and affordability
  • Availability of universal pharmacare in Canada

Parliamentary interventions

MP Kwan wrote to the Minister on lack of clarity on timelines, exemptions from inadmissibility on the grounds of excessive demand, hotel quarantine with new travel restrictions, and wrote about the citizenship guide and Oath of citizenship.

The member spoke of applying a racial lens for francophone immigration recently when discussing higher rejection rates for visa applicants from African countries.

In light of the situation in Hong Kong, the member has advocated for the creation of a refugee stream and voiced her security concerns with VSF Global.

The member is concerned about the impacts of the pandemic on migrant workers and their families, particularly the living and working conditions and access to free vaccines.

Social media presence

MP Kwan's Twitter and Facebook accounts focused on universal pharmacare, vaccine roll-out and housing. Key posts of interest to IRCC:

  • Feb 6 – Retweet: Cargill now under criminal investigation for failing to protect workers' lives, most are racialized, during covid outbreak at Alberta slaughterhouse. Hiep Bui, worked there for 23 yrs, when she died of COVID, company didn't bother to call her husband with condolences.
  • Jan 26 – I wrote a letter over the recent revelations concerning the ownership structure of VFS Global and calling on the govt to redirect resources for processing immigration applications using the Canadian public service.
  • Jan 24 – Retweet: The death of Yassin Dabeh, a 19 year old cleaner who worked at a for-profit #LTC home, tells us we live in a dystopian world where the privileged ‘stay home' while low income essential workers die because they have to work without paid sick leave or adequate PPE.
  • Jan 14 – Retweet: Canada should join multiple countries in granting permanent residence to migrant workers during pandemic https://bit.ly/3spyjTA

Jasraj Singh Hallan (Calgary Forest Lawn, AB)

Shadow Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration

About

Jasraj Singh Hallan was born in Dubai, immigrated to Northeast Calgary in Canada as a child. He holds an accounting degree, a Master Builder designation and runs a successful homebuilding business.

MP Hallan is the Shadow Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship and the former Shadow Minister of Multiculturalism.

Immigration topics of interest

  • Farmers protest in India
  • Immigration pathways for essential workers, temporary foreign workers and international students
  • Family reunification; grandparent and parents sponsorship applications
  • Immigration Levels
  • Border restrictions
  • Employment opportunities within Oil sector

Parliamentary interventions

Recently in Parliament, MP Hallan stated levels are “unrealistic quotas” and raised concerns over immigration processing times and border restrictions as a result of COVID-19.

Called for an explanation of the criteria used by officers when issuing visas and showed concern for the arbitrary and inconsistent judgments in some cases of rejections.

MP Hallan advocated for PR pathways for international students and TFWs. During a debate related to the pipeline cancellation, he vocalized concerns that immigrants are not feeling the “Alberta advantage” and that the oil sector is responsible for creating jobs, not the government.

Called on the Liberal government to comment on situation in India in the recent escalation in tensions between farmers and Indian authorities.

Social media presence 

MP Hallan's Twitter and Facebook accounts focused on farmer protests in India, family reunification and on Hong Kong. Key posts of interest to IRCC:

  • Feb 11 – Make sure you take a look at my colleagues' column: "Over the past decade or so, China has slowly and relentlessly moved to make Hong Kong just another Chinese city under the boot of the ruling Communist Party."
  • Feb 8 – Today, my colleagues and I sent a letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs urging him to defend peaceful protests and democracy in India and across the world.
  • Jan 29 – Images from #FarmersProtest in Dehli are horrifying. Everyone deserves dignity and right to peacefully protest in any democracy. Reports of police attacks are very concerning. Many of my constituents & I are shocked and sad to see violence against farmers and call for it to end.
  • Oct 28 – We have been hearing from constituents throughout the pandemic about the failures and delays in the family reunification process. This failure by the government has real life effects on physical, mental and financial health of Canadians and their families.

Kyle Seeback (Dufferin—Caledon, ON)

About

Kyle Seeback holds a Bachelor of laws degree, worked as a civil litigation lawyer in Brampton, Ontario and is a certified mediator.

MP Seeback was formally a member of the CIMM committee in the first session of this Parliament. He previously represented Brampton West in the 41st Parliament and was a member of the Justice and Human Rights as well as the Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development committees.

Immigration topics of interest

  • Covid-19 pandemic, including impact on processing times, restrictions on immigration processes and Canada's economic recovery
  • Fairness and transparency in immigration decisions, particularly for racialized groups
  • Temporary foreign workers, including pathways to PR, improvements to the Live-in Caregiver Program, and support for farmers and small businesses
  • Expediting and improving family reunification processes, specifically spousal sponsorship and Parents and Grandparents
  • Standing up against China to defend democracy

Parliamentary interventions

Due to changes in committee membership, MP Seeback recently returned to his role on this committee. His recent interventions are not related to immigration; instead, the member has been vocal about Canada's economic recovery, notably the need to do more to help small business during the pandemic.

In his CIMM role in the previous session, the member focused his questioning on the processing of passports and visas in the Chandigarh office as well as the acceptance rates of Punjab populations.

He asked about the implementation of the Oath of Citizenship and the changes to the Citizenship Guide and advocated for the need for pathways to PR for temporary foreign workers, including those in the agricultural sector, and the associated LMIA process.

The member also mentioned that family reunification is an incredibly important issue and has asked about the reduction in backlog for Parents and Grandparents.

Social media presence 

MP Seeback's Twitter and account has largely been focused on criticising the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out and situation in China. Key posts of interest to IRCC include:

  • Feb 4 – Retweet @Raquel Dancho: You committed to launching the open work permit by end of 2020. Last week in committee, your department officials admitted they failed to do so "because COVID". Now, here we are. Glad to see the urgency has returned, and parliamentary accountability works. #StandWithHongKong
  • Jan 27 – Canadians were told not to reunite with their families over Christmas. Despite this, it was reported Justin Trudeau's Liberal government granted travel visas to Huawei boss under house arrest. Do you think this was ok? Video
  • Jan 24 – Retweet: Canada urged to formally label China's Uyghur persecution as genocide https://t.co/0E5f7EmqfA?amp=1
  • Jan 22 – We can't stop the spread of COVID-19 when flights with infected people land every day. During the first weeks of 2021 over 190 flights with people infected with COVID-19 landed in Canada. The only person who can stop this is Justin Trudeau. Why hasn't he? #cdnpoli

Dean Allison (Niagara West, ON)

About

Dean Allison was born in London, Ontario, and holds a bachelor in Economics at Wilfrid Laurier University. He owns a Private Equity Firm that assists in small business and startups. Founding member of the Dave Thomas Adoption Foundation in Canada and the Belarus Children of Chernobyl program.

MP Allison is a member of the Standing Joint Committee Scrutiny of Regulations. He has served as Critic for International Development and has chaired the Human Resources, Skills Development and Status of Persons with Disabilities committee, and the Foreign Affairs and International Development committee.

Immigration topics of interest

  • Processing delays
  • Private sponsorship
  • Refugee protection
  • International Students
  • Refugee Integration

Parliamentary interventions

Recently, MP Allison has raised a number of concerns on special measures for Hong Kong, the retaliation from China in enabling international students to come to Canada, and mechanisms available for private sponsors to bring in refugees.

He has spoken to the Standing Committee on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship about international students and inquired about possible ideas to help them work to pay off student bills. MP Allison has also stressed the importance of a strong approach to integrating refugees and providing them with adequate social supports. MP Allison has also tabled a petition for the Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship to grant a stateless child a temporary residence permit.

Social media presence 

MP Allison's Twitter account has focused on vaccine roll-out and on mental health awareness, with some on China security issues. Key posts of interest to IRCC:

  • Dec 9 – Retweet: It's shocking that the liberals were so determined to train the Communist Party military on Canadian soil while they imprisoned 2 of our citizens. The US has declared Canada as a security risk. Trudeau must answer for this breach of trust. Globe and Mail Article.

Bob Saroya (Markham—Unionville, ON)

About

Bob Saroya was born in India and Immigrated to Canada. He served as a corporate director for a multi-billion dollar Canadian company, has volunteered for several local charities in York Region, and meets with and mentors new immigrants.

MP Saroya has formally held membership in the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development.

Immigration topics of interest

  • Illegally smuggled firearms
  • International Students
  • Family reunification
  • Effects of Covid-19 on programs and services
  • Irregular Migration

Parliamentary interventions

Recently, MP Saroya has shown interest in government programs and services temporarily suspended, delayed or shut down, as well as the operation of Canadian visa offices located outside of Canada during the pandemic.

He has commented on the importance of international students and their contribution to the Canadian economy. He commented that we “still have plenty of problems” when it comes to processing visa applications.

Social media presence 

MP Saroya's Twitter and Facebook pages have recently been focused on illegally smuggled firearms and vaccine roll-out. Key posts of interest to IRCC:

  • Oct 28 – Retweet: Yesterday I was in Ottawa to hear gut wrenching first-hand testimony by witnesses and to hold this Government to account. #Cdnpoli #FamilyReunification #StrongerTogether

Soraya Martinez Ferrada (Hochelaga, QC)

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

About

Soraya Martinez Ferrada is a Chilean-Canadian who immigrated to Canada and lives in Montreal. She has a background in communications and project management and has over 10 years of involvement in municipal politics.

MP Martinez Ferrada is the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.

Immigration topics of interest

  • Digitization and modernization of processes
  • Status of operations during the pandemic
  • Francophone immigration
  • Work Permits for Hong Kongers
  • Family reunification

Parliamentary interventions

Recently, MP Martinez Ferrada has been active on promoting French-language training for economic immigration and the recent technological and innovative changes done in immigration processes.

MP Martinez Ferrada has shown interest in the goal of 4.4% francophone immigration by 2023, has asked about the government's policies for the integration of immigrants into minority language communities and has been vocal about francophone communities decreasing. She has equally shown interest in francophone immigration outside Quebec.

She has also asked about labour shortages and the role of immigration in addressing skill levels needed in the country as well as an advocate for the importance of family reunification and the development of further assistance for international students, families and foreign workers.

Social media presence

MP Martinez ​Ferrada's Twitter and Facebook accounts have recently been focused on sharing key government information on Covid-19 and immigration. Key posts:

  • Oct. 27 – The Express Entry system has changed! Francophone and bilingual candidates will now find it easier to immigrate to . Fantastic news for Francophone minority communities in other provinces. http://bit.ly/ExpressFR
  • Oct. 13 – Families who want to apply under the Parents & Grandparents Program can do so starting now!
  • Oct. 2 – The result of tireless work to facilitate family reunification on humanitarian grounds while still protecting the safety of Canadians! As Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration, I am thrilled.

Salma Zahid (Scarborough Centre, ON)

Chair of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (Re-elected)

About

Salma Zahid was born in England, has a Master's in Educational Management and Administration and a Master's in Business Administration. Prior to entering politics, MP Zahid was a community organizer who worked to support women, their families and youth, and held several positions with the Government of Ontario.

MP Zahid is the re-elected Chair of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration and a long standing member of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women.

Immigration topics of interest

  • Racialized Canadians and visible minority women
  • Customer service within the immigration system
  • Family reunification, including Parents and grandparents
  • Humanitarian assistance for oppression of the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar and other oppressed persons around the world

Parliamentary interventions

In previous sessions, MP Zahid has been interested in family reunification, varying processing delays and practices for various visa offices in the context of family class applications, and shown interest in delays seen in specific spousal sponsorship cases. In the past Parliament, she noted backlogs and processing delays were the most frequent complaints from her constituents.

Social media presence 

MP Zahid's Twitter and Facebook accounts have recently been focused on pandemic updates, specifically on vaccine roll-out. Key posts of interest to IRCC:

  • Feb 3 – Retweet: BREAKING: The Federal Government has banned 4 white supremacist groups in Canada. They have banned The Proud Boys, The Base, Atomwaffen, and The Russian Imperial Movement as listed terrorist entities.
  • Nov 4 – Retweet: Justin Trudeau's government is trying a new tactic to mitigate the economic damage from a dramatic drop in immigration: persuade foreigners already in the country to stay, @shellykhagan @kbolongaro report
  • Oct 27 – Tweet: Immigration creates jobs and grows Canada's economy. Happy to read about another new Canadian success story.
  • Oct 20 – Tweet: In the meetings ahead we will hear from the Minister and expert witnesses on how the immigration system has and should be responding to the pandemic, including the impact on family reunification. Looking forward to getting started!
  • Oct 12 – Tweet: The 2020 Parents and Grandparents program opens tomorrow, Oct 13, at 12:00pm EDT and remains open until noon EST on Nov 3, 2020. Learn more about how to prepare and complete the 2020 interest to sponsor form.
  • Oct 19 – Tweet: Last week, the government announced new measures to support greater family reunification and entry for compassionate reasons. These measure are now in effect. More details

Hon. Geoff Regan (Halifax West, NS)

Chair of the Special Committee on Canada-China Relations

Former Speaker of the House

About

Hon. Geoff Regan was born in Nova Scotia to a family of politicians. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from St. Francis Xavier University and a Law degree from Dalhousie University. Before entering politics in 1993, he was a Real Estate and Commercial Lawyer.

MP Regan is the Chair of the Special Committee on Canada-China Relations and a long-standing member of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration. Formally, he occupied the posts of Speaker of the House, Chair of the Board of Internal Economy, and Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

Immigration topics of interest

  • International Students
  • Francophone Immigration
  • Family reunification
  • Atlantic Immigration

Parliamentary interventions

MP Regan has highlighted the importance of international students and their contribution to Canada. He also questioned how the government encourages francophone immigration outside of Quebec and inquired about how the government can accelerate the family reunification.

Social media presence 

MP Regan's Twitter and Facebook accounts have recently been focused on sharing information on government initiatives. Key posts of interest to IRCC:

  • Oct 6 – Tweet “It is important for families to be together, especially during a global pandemic. Canadians & permanent residents who wish to sponsor their parents & grandparents to come to Canada can submit an interest to sponsor form online from Oct 13-Nov 3.”
  • Oct 6 – Tweet “To ensure equal opportunity, a random selection of those who submit the interest form will be invited to submit an application. The #ParentsandGrandparentsProgram is a vital part of Canada's immigration system.”
  • Sept 4 – Tweet “Community and business leaders in #AtlanticCanada recognize how important #immigration is to our economic recovery – and future success – in the region link”

Sukh Dhaliwal (Surrey–Newton, BC)

About

Sukh Dhaliwal was born in India, immigrated to Canada in 1984 and became a Canadian citizen three years later. He is a a professional engineer, Fellow of Engineers Canada, land surveyor and small business owner who co-founded a successful land surveying company.

MP Dhaliwal is a member of the Standing Committee on International Trade.

Immigration topics of interest

  • Economic recovery
  • International Students
  • Parent or grandparent Sponsorship
  • Family Reunification
  • Settlement and integration

Parliamentary interventions

Recently, MP Dhaliwal has focused on the important contributions of international students to Canada's economy, culture and society. He has shown interest in examining family reunification and spousal sponsorships, but acknowledged that there are many dimensions to the issue.

Social media presence 

MP Dhaliwal's Twitter and Facebook accounts have recently been used to share information on the government's response to Covid-19. Key posts of interest to IRCC:

  • Feb 9 – Being from a riding within a border city, this is an important step in continuing the progress we are making in containing the spread of virus, particularly in the south of the Fraser region. CBC Article
  • Oct 30 – Tweet “These new targets from #Immigration Minister @marcomendicino are an important part of Canada's recovery plan #Immigrants create jobs - 1/3 business owners in Canada are immigrants When our population grows, our economy grows link”
  • Oct 13 – Tweet “Today the online application process to sponsoring a parent or grandparent opens You will have 3 weeks to apply for one of 10,000 spots that will be selected randomly Please visit the link for more information”
  • Oct 7 – Tweet “IRCC will allocate approximately $30 million toward settlement services to help newcomers recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
  • •     Oct 5 – Tweet “I'm proud to announce the opening of the 2020 Parents and Grandparents (PGP) Program building on our gov's commitment to reuniting families

Anju Dhillon (Dorval‒Lachine‒LaSalle, QC)

About

Anju Dhillon was born and raised in Montreal, holds a B.A. in Political Science from Concordia University and obtained a law degree from l'Université de Montréal. Before her career in politics, she was an attorney, and the first Canadian Sikh to practice law in Québec. 

MP Dhillon is a member of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women and formally a member of the Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities and the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage.

Immigration topics of interest

  • Anti-racism and experience of racialized groups
  • Economic Immigration
  • Farmer's strike in India
  • Parent and grandparents sponsorship programme
  • Food security and the role of agricultural workers
  • Gender equality in the temporary resident visa

Parliamentary interventions

MP Dhillon has shown recent interest in sponsorships and spousal work permits, specifically that constituents feel that they have been discriminated against because officers are not always fit to understand the nature of their relationships. She has asked about bias training to this regard.

MP Dhillon has shown interest in biometrics, random refusals for visitor visas, and the lengthy process of Labour Market Impact Assessments and concerns of gender equality in the processing of temporary resident visas.

Social media presence 

MP Dhillon's Twitter and Facebook accounts have recently been focused on the economy and racialized groups. Key posts of interest to IRCC:

  • Feb 10 – In today's call, the leaders discussed Canada and India's commitment to democratic principles, recent protests, and the importance of resolving issues through dialogue.
  • Jan 29 – Retweet: For almost a year, Canada's borders have been closed to foreign travelers. Less than 2% of COVID-19 cases are linked to returning Canadians. However, due to new variants, we are strengthening border measures to keep you and your family safe. More here: https://bit.ly/2M8Nocd
  • •     Oct 30 – Retweet “Yesterday in Parliament, I was honored to table our 2021-2023 Immigration Levels Plan, our roadmap for the next three years. Before the pandemic, our government's goal to drive the economy forward through immigration was ambitious. Now, it is vital.”

Marc G. Serré (Nickel Belt, ON)

About

Marc Serré is a proud Francophone born in Chelmsford, Ontario, and is a second generation Member of Parliament for Nickel Belt, Ontario. He is also a member of the Algonquin First Nation in Mattawa/North Bay. MP Serré holds an Honours Bachelor's degree in Commerce from Laurentian University and is the founder and CEO of PhoneNet, an internet service provider business.

MP Serré is a member of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women and the former Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Rural and Economic Development.

Immigration topics of interest

  • Francophone Immigration
  • Rural and Northern Immigration
  • Support for families, broadband internet, seniors' issues and the environment

Parliamentary interventions

MP Serré has shown recent interest in digitizing applications, correcting the backlog of spousal applications as well as the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot and the ability to integrate and retain newcomer families.

Social media presence 

MP Serré's Twitter and Facebook accounts have recently been focused on stakeholder meetings in the Nickel Belt, senior's advocacy, and addressing labour shortages in rural and northern Ontario. Key posts of interest to IRCC:

  • Feb 12 – This $95,000 FedNor funding will enable the Northern Policy Institute to strategically engage multiple stakeholders, communities and businesses across Northeastern Ontario to implement a plan to address challenges such as labour shortages, outmigration + an aging population that affect economic development in the region.  Hearing directly from local #NickeBelt #GreaterSudbury employers it is clear focusing on attracting skilled labour needs to remain a priority to ensure sustainability for years to come. Details
  • Nov 4 – Twitter “This is National Francophone Immigration Week, and it's an opportunity to bring together francophones of all backgrounds to foster dialogue. We are celebrating the incredible contributions of French‑speaking immigrants in our communities.”
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