Citizenship and Immigration Committee on June 5th, 2024

[Michelle Mascoll]

PR cards are issued to be consistent with the travel document that the applicant has provided, and the country code and associated nationality are issued in accordance with the ICAO standards.

[Greg McLean, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

Thank you.

There's no change that's going to happen, then, as far as people having trouble becoming Canadian citizens and accessing the same funds that would come over if they came over directly on a Hong Kong to Canadian PR. Is that correct?

[Michelle Mascoll]

PR cards will continue to be issued in accordance with the ICAO standards.

[Greg McLean, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

Thank you very much.

The problem we have here, of course, is that indications are that people cannot access the mandatory provident fund's pension funds, so we're going to have to find a way to make sure they have a good pension in Canada, and that will cost them. It's money they put away. It's a mandatory deduction. Are you aware of whether we're providing benefits, like Canada pension plan investment benefits, to people who live in China?

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Mr. McNamee, go ahead, please.

[Greg McLean, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

I'm sorry, but is there somebody from Finance here?

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Mr. Linkruus, do you want to go ahead? Please go ahead.

[Sven Linkruus, Director, Financial Services, Trade Relations, Financial Sector Policy Branch, Department of Finance]

I'm sorry. Was the question whether there's a provision for former Hong Kong residents to receive—

[Greg McLean, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

Yes, and I'm sorry if it was unclear.

I'm looking for some kind of reciprocity. Hong Kongers who are becoming Canadian permanent residents are not receiving the money they put away for the mandatory provident fund—their pension fund—whereas people who have moved from Canada to parts of the PRC, even to Hong Kong, are receiving CPP benefits. Is there any indication of some consistency of approach to this?

[Sven Linkruus]

I'm sorry, but I don't have any information on the reciprocity issue with respect to exchange of pension benefits between Canada and other countries.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Thank you very much, and the time is up to six minutes and 30 seconds.

One thing before I go to Mr. Ali, honourable members, is that if you, just like Mr. McLean mentioned, can name the individual or the department your question is going to so that they can prepare beforehand to make sure your answer is properly addressed, that would be very much appreciated.

With that, Mr. Ali, please go ahead for six minutes.

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton Centre, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you to all the witnesses for being here and appearing before the committee.

My question is to the officials from IRCC. We heard many concerns from Hong Kongers that they will not be able to enter Canada because they participated in pro-democracy protests. Can you walk us through the process that immigration officers go through when examining foreign charges and convictions, and whether Hong Kongers who participated in these protests are barred from entering or remaining in Canada?

[Elizabeth Snow, Director General, International Platform, Department of Citizenship and Immigration]

Within the legislation there are provisions that officers will look at with respect to criminality, but the criminality has to be equivalent to that in Canadian law, so for Hong Kong nationals who participated in protests there would have to be an equivalent part in the Canadian Criminal Code that would find them inadmissible. Based on experience, that is not the case.

Further, officers are also very aware and mindful of the complexities, and are looking at the cases on an individualized basis. They do have sound judgment, so they know there are unique circumstances to take into consideration for Hong Kong.

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton Centre, ON]

Thank you.

Through the chair, can you kindly elaborate on the specific services and support mechanisms available for Hong Kong nationals seeking refuge in Canada?

[James McNamee]

If I understand the question correctly, applicants for permanent residence, once they are approved, are eligible, of course, for the standard settlement and integration services that IRCC offers. In the case of applicants who are perhaps seeking to come as refugees, they would be eligible for the programs that are available for persons seeking that status. Those services range from settlement and integration services to employment services and related ones in Canada. Those services are available for those who have been approved for permanent residence and are available across the board for all applicants, regardless of country of origin.

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton Centre, ON]

To follow up on the same question, there are two pathways for PR, as you said. Are there any specific services for refugees who are Hong Kong nationals?

[James McNamee]

Insofar as we provide a special pathway for them to seek permanent residence if they have been living in Canada, working or studying, as well as if they are here on a temporary basis, they are able to extend that stay through open work permits of various durations.

On May 27, we announced a special public policy that enables anyone from Hong Kong who has previously held a permit to continue to remain in Canada by applying for that new pathway, which allows them to remain for an additional three years. That's to enable them to bridge the gap between the time when they applied for permanent residence and when they may obtain that.

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton Centre, ON]

Thank you.

As you know, other ally countries have different measures for nationals of Hong Kong. Are there any specific programs in other countries that Canada should look at?

Do you have any overviews of what other countries might have for programs that are different from ours? Do you have any comparisons or any specific measures that are different?

[James McNamee]

I'm not familiar with what other countries have in place for Hong Kong. I will say that Canada has traditionally had one of the most generous pathways for anyone seeking protection and support.

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton Centre, ON]

This question is for the Finance department.

Are there any challenges that insurance companies have had in providing pension benefits to Hong Kongers in Canada who have made claims?

[Sven Linkruus]

We are not specifically aware of any identifiable cases that Canadian insurance companies that are active in Hong Kong have had. No specific cases have been brought to our attention.

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton Centre, ON]

Are there any challenges that might have come to your attention that Hong Kongers living in Canada might encounter in trying to access their pensions?

[Sven Linkruus]

We're aware of the general situation whereby, as we understand it, the rules of the mandatory provident fund are that if you are going to leave Hong Kong, you have to establish permanent residency in your new country and sign some sort of document to say that you're not coming back to Hong Kong. At that point, your application to withdraw those funds would be considered.

We're aware of the general issues that former Hong Kongers have faced, but we're not aware of any specific cases that have been brought to our attention.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Thank you very much, Mr. Ali. With that, your time is up. We can come back to you for the next round.

With this, my dear friend Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe has six minutes.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. You're the best.

First of all, welcome to all the witnesses.

Mr. McNamee, in your remarks, you said you were concerned about Hong Kong's national security law.

Why are you concerned? Do you feel it leads to human rights violations? Is that the reason?