The committee resumed consideration of the motion, as amended, moved by Raquel Dancho, on Wednesday, October 14, 2020, which read as follows:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration commence a study on examining the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on Canada’s immigration system, and that this study evaluate, review and examine all issues relevant to this situation, including the following:

1. application backlogs and processing times for the different streams of family reunification and the barriers preventing the timely reunification of loved ones, such as denials of temporary resident visas because of section 179(b) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations and the ongoing closures of Visa Application Centers;
2. examine the government’s decision to reintroduce a lottery system for the reunification of parents and grandparents; to compare it to previous iterations of application processes for this stream of family reunification, including a look at processing times and the criteria required for successful sponsorship;
3. temporary resident visa processing, authorization to travel to Canada by individuals with an expired Confirmation of Permanent Residency; use of expired security and background checks for permanent immigration;
4. the facilitation and issuing of visas and study permits for international students, with special attention to the experience of groups of international students (such as students from francophone Africa) and to the usual administrative delays and additional delays caused by the COVID 19 pandemic;
5. refugee resettlement program, meeting the Government of Canada’s international commitments to settle convention refugees in Canada, work of Canadian civil society groups to bring privately sponsored refugees to Canada, and to extend a life boat to the people of Hong Kong facing persecution under the new National Security Law;
6. severe and long-term economic impact of reduced immigration to Canada in 2020-2023;
7. administrative costs and delays related to Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) applications under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and consideration of possible solutions, including granting open work permits on a sector-by-sector basis to facilitate labour mobility; that LMIAs be biennial; that the duration of work permits be extended; that three-year work permits be extended annually;
8. technological capability of the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada and Passport Canada to work remotely or virtually, meet service standards and enforce applicable laws.
9. that all testimonies received during a study pursuant to this motion be deemed included in further studies;
10. the two pilot projects for Caregivers introduced as of June 18, 2019: (1) Home Child Care Provider Pilot; and (2) Home Support Worker Pilot; that the study examines the criteria and its effect on the caregivers who are trying to qualify under these programs toward the path for permanent status; that the Committee report its findings to the House; and that, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the government table a comprehensive response thereto.
11. that this study begin no later than October 27, 2020, that the Committee table its findings in the House upon completion and that, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the government table a comprehensive response thereto.

and of the amendment, moved by Sukh Dhaliwal, on Wednesday, October 14, 2020, which read as follows:

That the motion be amended in paragraph 1 by replacing all the words with the following: That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study on family reunification and that, during the study, the committee pay attention to the grand operational landscape, including sponsorship application process times; the committee examine ways in which to improve the application process and explore options to increase efficiency and accessibility for families; and, the committee report its findings and recommendations to the House”.

Debate arose thereon.

By unanimous consent, the amendment of Sukh Dhaliwal was withdrawn.

The committee resumed consideration of the motion, as amended.

On motion of Soraya Martinez Ferrada, it was agreed, — That the debate be now adjourned.

Jenny Kwan moved, — That the Committee invite the Minister of Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship and department officials for 2 hours to provide a briefing to committee members on the impact of the pandemic on Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship staffing levels and the ability to process all immigration and refugee streams locally and aboard.

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Dean Allison, Raquel Dancho, Sukh Dhaliwal, Anju Dhillon, Jasraj Singh Hallan, Jenny Kwan, Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Christine Normandin, Geoff Regan, Bob Saroya, Marc Serré — 11;

NAYS: — 0.

Raquel Dancho moved, — That, pursuant to standing order 108(2), the committee commence a study to examine the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on Canada’s immigration system, and that this study evaluate, review and examine issues relevant to this situation, including the following:

1. application backlogs and processing times for the different streams of family reunification and the barriers preventing the timely reunification of loved ones, such as denials of temporary resident visas because of section 179(b) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations and the ongoing closures of Visa Application Centers;
2. examine the government’s decision to reintroduce a lottery system for the reunification of parents and grandparents; to compare it to previous iterations of application processes for this stream of family reunification, including a review of processing times and the criteria required for successful sponsorship;
3. temporary resident visa (TRV) processing, delays faced by international students in securing TRVs particularly in Francophone Africa, authorization to travel to Canada by individuals with an expired Confirmation of Permanent Residency; use of expired security, medical and background checks for permanent immigration;

that the committee hold at least eight meetings to hear from witnesses; that the committee report its findings to the House; and that pursuant to Standing Order 109, the government table a comprehensive response thereto.

Debate arose thereon.

The Committee resumed consideration of the amendment of Christine Normandin, as amended, which read as follows:

That this study begin no later than October 27, 2020, and that the committee hold no more than eight meetings to hear from witnesses; that the witnesses called as part of this study be allowed to testify on one or more of the issues in this motion; that the evidence gathered during this study be deemed to have also been given during subsequent studies to be held during this Parliament, provided that the subsequent studies deal with issues similar to those in this motion; that the committee report its findings to the House; and that pursuant to Standing Order 109, the government table a comprehensive response thereto.

Debate arose thereon.

The committee resumed consideration of the motion, as amended, of Raquel Dancho, which read as follows:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee commence a study to examine the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on Canada's immigration system, and this study evaluate, review and examine issues relevant to the situation including the following:

1. application backlogs and processing times for the different streams of family reunification and the barriers preventing the timely reunification of loved ones, such as denials of temporary resident visas because of section 179(b) of the Immigration and Refugees Protection Regulations and the ongoing closures of Visa Application Centres;
2. examine the government's decision to reintroduce a lottery system for the reunification of parents and grandparents; to compare it to previous iterations of application processes for this stream of family reunification, including a review of processing time and the criteria required for the successful sponsorship;
3. temporary resident visa TRV processing delays faced by international students in securing TRVs, particularly in francophone Africa, authorization to travel to Canada by individuals with an expired confirmation of permanent residency, use of expired security, medical, and background checks for permanent immigration;

that this study begin no later than October 27, 2020, and that the committee hold no more than eight meetings to hear from witnesses; that the witnesses called as part of this study be allowed to testify on one or more of the issues in this motion; that the evidence gathered during this study be deemed to have also been given during subsequent studies to be held during this Parliament, provided that the subsequent studies deal with issues similar to those in this motion; that the committee report its findings to the House; and that pursuant to Standing Order 109, the government table a comprehensive response thereto.

Debate continued.

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.

Jenny Kwan moved, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study to examine special immigration and refugee measures in order to provide a safe haven to the people of Hong Kong facing persecution under the new National Security Law; and the Committee report its findings to the House; and that, Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the government table a comprehensive response thereto.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

On motion of Sukh Dhaliwal, it was agreed, — That the committee do now adjourn.