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Mr. Chair, vetting security risk is something—
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Mr. Chair, we have service standards. From my briefings, in the very short time that I have been a minister, I understand we are actually meeting and exceeding those standards.
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Mr. Chair, we actually spoke about that and it is in the estimates. We have biometrics that—
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Mr. Chair, all immigrants who come here, whether they are international students or temporary foreign workers, are screened by biometrics. Comprehensive screening is done.
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Mr. Chair, we work very hard at IRCC with our partners around the globe to ensure that—
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Mr. Chair, the safety of Canadians is of prime importance, which is why we have also introduced Bill C-2 to strengthen our borders, ensure the immigration system and visa—
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Mr. Chair, again, there are biometrics, even in the estimates. We have funding allocated for those, which is $55.5 million in the estimates. There are—
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Mr. Chair, I mean, the CBSA would be the department that would be able to answer questions like that.
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Mr. Chair, again, these questions are better suited to Public Safety and the Canada Border Services Agency.
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Mr. Chair, I do have a mandate letter from the Prime Minister, and he has made it quite clear as to what the expectations are.
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Mr. Chair, these are security matters and security fissures, and of course, Public Safety and CBSA take control of that.
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Mr. Chair, we have a robust criminal justice system, and there are roles in place. Again, people who are charged—
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Mr. Chair, we have robust measures in the main estimates that deal with biometric collection, with security, but again, CBSA and CSIS are the ones that are in charge of that.
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Mr. Chair, when we talk about international students, I can say that in my own province of Nova Scotia, for the last over a decade, they come to the province and really do enrich the lives—
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Mr. Chair, we are taking vital steps, and we have already done that, to ensure that students are supported and that we protect—
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Mr. Chair, we have tightened the visa integrity measures. We have instituted financial requirements—
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Mr. Chair, what I can say is, in 2024, we had approved—
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Mr. Chair, again, there is a robust system, and we have tightened those systems. We have updated the postgraduate work permit program to better respond to the needs, and we have limited the number off campus. We are working hard to ensure the international—
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Mr. Chair, again, we are taking steps to ensure that students are supported but at the same time that they are not being taken advantage of, and we are restoring—
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Mr. Chair, what I would say is, in 2024, IRCC approved 292,431 new study permits. That is 41% fewer than what was approved in 2023.
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Mr. Chair, we have instituted stronger integrity to prevent any student fraud, particularly when students are taken advantage of by fraudulent partners that—
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Mr. Chair, yes, of course I can. We have implemented an enhanced letter of acceptance verification system to protect these students from fraud.
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Mr. Chair, students who were granted letters fraudulently did not come to Canada.
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Mr. Chair, what I have said and will say again is that we have implemented stronger integrity to prevent students from being taken advantage of. We have also clarified that programs delivered through—
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Mr. Chair, again, as of today, the average time to process these claims is 14 to 18 months.
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Mr. Chair, as I referenced in my opening remarks, when we talked about our estimates, we have interim housing supports. We also have—
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Mr. Chair, we will get that information before we leave today, but again, as I said to the member—
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Mr. Chair, the measures in Bill C-2 were introduced for the fact that we are seeing a high number of asylum claims, some of which are not legitimate, and that is meant to ensure—
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Mr. Chair, those numbers are given to provinces and communities to help support the people who come to their provinces as well.
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Mr. Chair, that is exactly why we are working to reduce our numbers, and those numbers are decreasing.
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Mr. Chair, that is why the ineligibility requirements in Bill C-2 are there. It is to ensure that we deal with the people who do not have legitimate claims. My—
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Mr. Chair, to begin, I would like to thank my colleague. I greatly appreciate his co-operation. We have met once already, and I look forward to working with him to improve the situation, not only in Quebec, but also across Canada. Could my colleague repeat his question?
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Mr. Chair, departmental plans for my department are due in November. They are always due in November.
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Mr. Chair, I really appreciate that question. It is a very good question. I can tell my colleague that I will talk to departmental officials about it. I will keep my colleague posted.
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Mr. Chair, what I can say is that estimates have been established for now. I cannot predict what the future will bring.
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Mr. Chair, again, this is very important. What I can say is that the department's plan is coming. My colleague is right. However, when he talks about modernizing the immigration system, we are at $134.8 million for this year.
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Mr. Chair, I really appreciate these questions. I must point out that I have only been minister for a few weeks. It is important for me to answer my colleague's questions. I understand these issues. They are important. I think the processing time is probably related to Ukraine and Afghanistan.
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Mr. Chair, I know there has been a 71% reduction in visitors who have—
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Mr. Chair, we are working on reducing processing times. I have already met with representatives of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, who assured me that they are working very hard and efficiently. I think that Bill C-2 will help a lot.
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Mr. Chair, as I said, I really appreciate my colleague's questions. They are important. What I am saying is that we are working to reduce processing times—
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Mr. Chair, as I understand it, the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada processes 85,000 claims a year.
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Mr. Chair, I think that the member is talking about the Canada-Quebec accord. Is that right?
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Mr. Chair, we understand and recognize the role that Quebec plays in welcoming asylum seekers. We have always supported Quebec. The number of asylum seekers in Ontario and Quebec is very high. That is why we are working with the provinces to—
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Mr. Chair, the federal government has paid the Government of Quebec $750 million in consideration of the challenges associated with temporary accommodation and asylum caused by irregular border crossings. We always work with the Province of Quebec—
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Mr. Chair, we remain committed to doing our part and working with Quebec to fulfill our national and international obligations towards people fleeing violence.
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Mr. Chair, yes, the Quebec government received $750 million, not $750,000, for temporary housing for asylum seekers.
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Mr. Chair, since 2017, Quebec has received $590.8 million under the interim housing assistance program. That represents nearly 50% of all funding allocated under this program.
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Mr. Chair, that is an important question. The two levels of government jointly administer the temporary foreign worker program. Quebec controls more than 50% of the immigration for this type of worker, but we are here to work with Quebec, regardless.
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Mr. Chair, I have only been here for three and a half weeks, and I want to continue working with all the provinces, including Quebec, but also with my officials. We are going to come back to this. There have been many changes to many programs.
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Mr. Chair, let me welcome the colleague to the House to ask me questions tonight. As I have said, we tabled the levels plan for 2025—
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