SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 13

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
December 8, 2021 02:00PM
Context: House Hansard - 13 - Dec/8/21
The Assistant Deputy Chair
  • Dec/8/21 10:49:02 p.m.
  • Watch
The hon. member for Vancouver East.
6 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Ms. Jenny Kwan
  • Dec/8/21 10:49:04 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Chair, that is not even one-tenth of what the government said it would bring in. Have the cabinet approved the 40,000 target that has been announced?
29 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Mona Fortier
  • Dec/8/21 10:49:17 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Chair, once again, we are working very hard to meet our objective. As the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship announced yesterday, two planes transporting more than 500 Afghans arrived in Canada today.
34 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Ms. Jenny Kwan
  • Dec/8/21 10:49:40 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Chair, have any of the caps on refugee admissions been met this year?
14 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Mona Fortier
  • Dec/8/21 10:49:45 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Chair, our objectives are very clear, and we will continue to do what is necessary to meet them.
19 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Ms. Jenny Kwan
  • Dec/8/21 10:49:56 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Chair, these are fairly straight-up questions for the minister. I do not know why she is avoiding answering any of them. Can the minister tell us if the current immigration levels can accommodate the 40,000 Afghan refugee target?
41 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Mona Fortier
  • Dec/8/21 10:50:15 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Chair, as I already said, we have an objective. We have been able to bring in more than 3,800 Afghans, 500 of whom arrived in the past 24 hours. We are concerned about people's health and safety and are working with our partners and allies to continue these efforts—
53 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
The Assistant Deputy Chair
  • Dec/8/21 10:50:39 p.m.
  • Watch
The hon. member for Vancouver East.
6 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Ms. Jenny Kwan
  • Dec/8/21 10:50:43 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Chair, the minister is not answering any of my questions. She keeps on reciting the message box, but not answering any of the questions. Canadians are extremely generous even during these difficult times. Many want to privately sponsor refugees to Canada, so will the government increase the number of sponsorship agreement holders?
53 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Mona Fortier
  • Dec/8/21 10:51:08 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Chair, we must thank those Canadians who are helping with the effort to bring Afghans to Canada. As I mentioned, we will continue to do our best to ensure we get them to Canada as quickly as possible.
39 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Ms. Jenny Kwan
  • Dec/8/21 10:51:30 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Chair, will the government increase the number of sponsorship agreement holders?
12 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Mona Fortier
  • Dec/8/21 10:51:36 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Chair, we continue to look for different ways to bring the 40,000 Afghans to Canada as we promised in our election campaign, and we confirmed it again during—
31 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
The Assistant Deputy Chair
  • Dec/8/21 10:51:49 p.m.
  • Watch
The hon. member for Vancouver East.
6 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Ms. Jenny Kwan
  • Dec/8/21 10:51:52 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Chair, November is usually when the new immigration levels plan is released. This year, no immigration levels plan has been made public. When will the immigration levels plan be made available?
32 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Mona Fortier
  • Dec/8/21 10:52:05 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Chair, the 2021-23 immigration levels plan was tabled in October 2020. We will continue to follow this plan that we established. The immigration minister will obviously revise—
30 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
The Assistant Deputy Chair
  • Dec/8/21 10:52:21 p.m.
  • Watch
The hon. member for Vancouver East.
6 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Ms. Jenny Kwan
  • Dec/8/21 10:52:24 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Chair, as the minister knows, normally a new immigration level plan is tabled every November and there is not one this year. There is a huge backlog in the immigration system with every stream. When does the minister anticipate we will get back to pre-pandemic levels?
48 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Hon. Mona Fortier
  • Dec/8/21 10:52:43 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Chair, we know that the pandemic has put a lot of pressure on us to continue our efforts to receive immigrants and refugees in Canada. The minister responsible has told the House that we will propose targets—
39 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
The Assistant Deputy Chair
  • Dec/8/21 10:53:05 p.m.
  • Watch
The hon. member for Vancouver East.
6 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Ms. Jenny Kwan
  • Dec/8/21 10:53:05 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Chair, families are waiting two to three years for their application to be processed. At the rate in which things are going, it is going to take three years to process and get us back to pre-pandemic levels to clear the backlog. A number of caregivers have passed Canadian nursing exams and have met all licensing requirements to practise, but are unable to do so because of employer-specific work permits. This is a waste of talent, especially at a time when we have a nursing shortage. Will the minister expedite their PR applications or provide them with a bridging open work permit so they are able to work in the health care system?
116 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border