CIMM Committee Meeting
Notices of Meeting include information about the subject matter to be examined by the committee and date, time and place of the meeting, as well as a list of any witnesses scheduled to appear. The Evidence is the edited and revised transcript of what is said before a committee. The Minutes of Proceedings are the official record of the business conducted by the committee at a sitting.
For an advanced search, use Publication Search tool.
If you have any questions or comments regarding the accessibility of this publication, please contact us at accessible@parl.gc.ca.
Minutes of Proceedings
The committee resumed consideration of a draft letter.
At 5:22 p.m., the sitting was suspended.
At 5:23 p.m., the sitting resumed.
It was agreed, — That the committee proceed to sit in public.
At 5:25 p.m., the sitting was suspended.
At 5:35 p.m., the sitting resumed in public.
At 5:41 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 115(5), the sitting was suspended.
At 6:32 p.m., the sitting resumed.
Jenny Kwan moved, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee add an additional meeting to the study adopted on February 12, 2024 regarding the pension transferability and access to Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) for Hongkongers, to study the processing delays for permanent residence applications of Hongkongers, potential differential treatment among different Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) visa offices, and the status of priority processing for applicants in Canada and abroad.
Debate arose thereon.
By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That the motion be amended by adding after the word “abroad” the following: “that Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and Global Affairs Canada (GAC) officials be invited to appear during this meeting”.
After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.
The motion, as amended, read as follows:
That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee add an additional meeting to the study adopted on February 12, 2024 regarding the pension transferability and access to Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) for Hongkongers, to study the processing delays for permanent residence applications of Hongkongers, potential differential treatment among different Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) visa offices, and the status of priority processing for applicants in Canada and abroad; that Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and Global Affairs Canada (GAC) officials be invited to appear during this meeting.
Tom Kmiec moved, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee conduct a study into the widespread Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) fraud committed under the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) as reported by the Globe and Mail starting on September 29, 2023 specifically referencing immigration consultants and lawyers whom allegedly fraudulently marketed LMIAs to migrants in values as high as $80,000 in violation of the established regulations; that this study consist of at least two meetings; that for one meeting the committee invite the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship and his department officials to testify for one hour each; that for one meeting the committee invite the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development, and Official Languages and his department officials to testify for one hour each; that the committee report its findings to the House; and that the committee request a comprehensive response from the Government.
Debate arose thereon.
Paul Chiang moved, — That the motion be amended by adding before the words “that the committee report its findings to the House” the following: “that the ministers have the option to appear together for one hour followed by officials of IRCC and Employment and Social Development Canada (EDSC) for one hour”.
After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Paul Chiang and it was agreed to.
Debate arose thereon.
Jenny Kwan moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the word “into” the following:
“(1)” and by adding after the word “regulations” the following:
“and (2) the alleged blacklisting by employers of temporary foreign workers who have obtained open work permits on account of being abused or at risk of abuse in relation to their job;”.
After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Jenny Kwan and it was agreed to.
After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.
The motion, as amended, read as follows:
That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee conduct a study into
(1) the widespread Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) fraud committed under the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) as reported by the Globe and Mail starting on September 29, 2023 specifically referencing immigration consultants and lawyers whom allegedly fraudulently marketed LMIAs to migrants in values as high as $80,000 in violation of the established regulations and
(2) the alleged blacklisting by employers of temporary foreign workers who have obtained open work permits on account of being abused or at risk of abuse in relation to their job; that this study consist of at least two meetings; that for one meeting the committee invite the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship and his department officials to testify for one hour each; that for one meeting the committee invite the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development, and Official Languages and his department officials to testify for one hour each; that the ministers have the option to appear together for one hour followed by officials of IRCC and Employment and Social Development Canada (EDSC) for one hour; that the committee report its findings to the House; and that the committee request a comprehensive response from the Government.
Greg McLean moved, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee demand the appearance of the Minister of Immigration and the Member of Parliament for Vancouver Quadra, to explain their roles and the rational of the Minister’s intervention in the stay of deportation of Zain Haq. Media reports that this foreign activist, who has admitted to receiving $170,000 from a foreign entity for his illegal activities, had faced deportation due to violations of his study permit; has been arrested at least 10 times; and has been previously convicted of mischief charges. The 2023 court decision indicate that Mr. Haq has “show disdain for the rule of law and he has publicly encouraged others to break the law.” Court documents indicate that Mr. Haq helped organize a road closure that “interfered with emergency vehicles trying to access St. Paul’s Hospital”.
Debate arose thereon.
The question was put on the motion and it was negatived on the following recorded division:
YEAS: Tom Kmiec, Larry Maguire, Greg McLean, Brad Redekopp — 4;
NAYS: Shafqat Ali, Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Paul Chiang, Fayçal El-Khoury, Arielle Kayabaga, Jenny Kwan, Salma Zahid — 7.
On motion of Paul Chiang, it was agreed, — That the committee do now adjourn.
At 7:04 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.