Key Takeaways:
- Immigration Minister Lena Diab and Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner clashed at a House of Commons committee meeting over immigration levels, deporting non-citizen criminals, and the government’s pending C-12 legislation.
- The C-12 legislation gives the government the power to stop accepting applications or cancel, suspend, or change documents for an entire immigration class, which critics say could be abused.
- Diab refused to say whether she plans to use this power to keep more people in Canada rather than expelling them when their visas expire.
- Rempel Garner accused Diab of being a "very bad minister" and criticized her for not providing clear answers to questions.
- The meeting also discussed recent cases of non-citizen criminals receiving lenient sentences to avoid deportation, with Rempel Garner calling for tougher sentences and Diab saying that sentencing decisions are made independently by the courts.
Introduction to the Committee Meeting
The House of Commons committee meeting between Immigration Minister Lena Diab and Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner was marked by tension and disagreement. The two politicians sparred over various issues, including immigration levels, deporting non-citizen criminals, and the government’s pending C-12 legislation. The meeting was also notable for a heated exchange between the two, with Rempel Garner accusing Diab of being a "very bad minister" and Diab responding by saying she prefers Lebanese salads to Rempel Garner’s "word salad."
The C-12 Legislation
The C-12 legislation was a major point of contention between Diab and Rempel Garner. The legislation gives the government the power to stop accepting applications or cancel, suspend, or change documents for an entire immigration class. Critics say that this power could be abused, either to increase the number of newcomers or to cancel visas en masse. Diab refused to say whether she plans to use this power to keep more people in Canada rather than expelling them when their visas expire, saying only that "that’s not the purpose" of the legislation.
Deporting Non-Citizen Criminals
Rempel Garner also criticized Diab over recent cases of non-citizen criminals receiving lenient sentences to avoid deportation. Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, a permanent resident or foreign national can be deemed inadmissible if they engage in "serious criminality," which includes any crime that results in being sentenced to prison for more than six months. Rempel Garner cited a recent case in which an Indian national was sentenced to a conditional discharge for committing an indecent act, and argued that the man should have been dealt with more harshly by the courts and ultimately deported. Diab said that sentencing decisions are made independently by the courts, but assured Rempel Garner that the government will remove foreign criminals when appropriate.
Bullying and Harassment of Public Servants
The meeting started with a letter from Diab’s deputy minister, Harpreet Kochhar, expressing concern about the bullying and harassment of public servants who have appeared before the committee. Kochhar said that some politicians have posted videos of public servants testifying at the committee, and that they have been targeted online and in person as a result. Rempel Garner denied that she was trying to bully or harass public servants, and said that she was simply trying to hold the government accountable for its immigration policy.
Immigration Targets
Diab was ostensibly before the committee to discuss the government’s immigration targets for the coming years. The government plans to reduce the number of permanent residents admitted to Canada by 20% over the next three years, and to reduce the number of temporary residents by 45%. Diab said that the plan is designed to bring about "sustainable, predictable levels" of immigration, and that the government has heard from Canadians that the volume of immigrants in the post-COVID period has been hard to manage. Rempel Garner criticized the government’s plan, saying that it does not go far enough to address the concerns of Canadians about immigration.
Conclusion
The committee meeting between Diab and Rempel Garner highlighted the deep divisions between the government and the opposition on immigration policy. The meeting was marked by tension and disagreement, with both sides accusing each other of being out of touch with the concerns of Canadians. The debate over immigration policy is likely to continue in the coming months, with the government’s plan to reduce immigration levels and the opposition’s calls for tougher action on deporting non-citizen criminals likely to be major points of contention.