QUESTION PERIOD — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Permanent Residence Pathways
April 11, 2024
Leader, common-sense Conservatives stand in solidarity with the people of Hong Kong and against the erosion of their democracy and civil rights by the People’s Republic of China, or PRC. A petition is being delivered today to the Trudeau government by the Hong Kong pathway applicants. They are deeply concerned about the long delay in processing permanent residency applications. As of January, the backlog stood at over 8,000 cases. As a direct result, some individuals have already lost their jobs and health care, children have been unable to attend school, and some spouses have been forced to return to Hong Kong.
Leader, Canada promised to help these people. What is the Trudeau government doing to address this backlog before it’s too late for these families?
This is a serious problem, and I thank you for the question. The government, as you would know, extended the deadline for applications. My understanding is that they have put in place additional resources in order to address the question of backlog.
I have questions on the Order Paper about Hong Kong that have gone unanswered for almost two years. Is anybody reading them? These individuals can’t wait that long for the Trudeau government to do its job, leader, and process their applications, especially as the situation in Hong Kong continues to deteriorate.
Leader, do you commit to tabling in the Senate a real answer from Minister Miller to my questions and to do so quickly?
I will certainly make inquiries as to the status of your question the next time I speak to the minister.
