QUESTION PERIOD — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Immigration System
October 30, 2024
Leader, in a note to clients last week, Scotiabank’s top economist has this to say about the NDP-Liberal government’s handling of Canada’s immigration system:
. . . mismanagement of Canada’s immigration programs will cost this country for many years. . . . Frankly, as both an economist and a Canadian, I’m utterly ashamed of how this government has so severely botched the immigration file for several years now.
He also said, “There must be accountability for the damage done to Canada’s stature as a welcoming, reliable nation for new arrivals.”
Leader, where does that accountability lie?
Thank you for your question. Minister Miller has been remarkably forthcoming and remarkably candid in acknowledging that in a period following the pandemic, when we desperately needed to increase the number of new arrivals here in order to save our economy from falling into a recession — which, happily, we did not experience — the government did not make the adjustments in the post-pandemic era as quickly as it could. The accountability and responsibility were assumed by this government through Minister Miller. The adjustments that were made were difficult and have been the subject of questions in this chamber, but are nonetheless necessary for the next two years in order to find the right balance between whom we receive and how we can accommodate them.
Yes, tragically, the immigration system is currently broken. Food Banks Canada reported on Monday:
Newcomers to Canada who have been in the country for 10 years or less account for 32% of food bank clients, a significant increase from last year. Most clients in this category arrived within the last two years. . . .
Leader, isn’t this yet another example of how the NDP-Liberals mismanaged our immigration system?
Senator, thank you for your question and for once again highlighting the challenges that many Canadians, whether newly arrived or others, are still facing. I repeat: The government made the adjustments to the different immigration programs in recognition that a new balance had to be struck in light of the challenges to our economy and our ability to accommodate. Those changes, we hope, will bear fruit.
