Evidence of meeting #104 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was kongers.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:55 p.m.
Director, Financial Services, Trade Relations, Financial Sector Policy Branch, Department of Finance
Thank you.
I'm not aware of any such agreement, but I would have to consult internally with perhaps some of our tax policy experts who deal with these international tax types of treaties.
5:55 p.m.
Liberal
5:55 p.m.
Liberal
Julie Dzerowicz Liberal Davenport, ON
I got so excited, Mr. Chair.
Are you aware of that agreement that I just read out, the Agreement on Social Security Between the Government of Canada and the Government of the People's Republic of China?
5:55 p.m.
Director, Financial Services, Trade Relations, Financial Sector Policy Branch, Department of Finance
I am not personally aware of that agreement, but I'm sure there's somebody in another part of the Department of Finance who would have information about that.
5:55 p.m.
Liberal
Julie Dzerowicz Liberal Davenport, ON
The only reason I was asking was that I wonder if there's an arbitration element in that agreement that could actually apply. But if you're not aware of it, then that would be moot.
Okay, so then I'm going to go to my next set of questions about the second part of this study, which is access of the Hong Kongers in Canada to viable pathways to Canadian permanent residence.
Maybe my question is for Ms. Snow.
What are all the current viable pathways to Canadian permanent residence for Hong Kongers in Canada?
6 p.m.
Director General, Family and Social Immigration Branch, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Thank you.
Hong Kongers have access to all of the pathways we currently have at the department. Those include family reunification pathways for people who are trying to bring their families over, the economic pathways, which include the express entry system, and all the skilled migration pathways.
We also have business program pathways, as well as pathways managed through provincial/territorial governments, in addition to the special pathway that we created in 2021, which will be in effect for another year until 2025. This enables people who have previously worked or studied in Canada to continue to apply for permanent residence and get access to that mechanism. So there are very many pathways that are available to Hong Kong nationals.
6 p.m.
Liberal
Julie Dzerowicz Liberal Davenport, ON
Thank you. It seems like we have some long processing times within IRCC, and I'm wondering whether that is impacting some of the applications.
I think you mentioned, Ms. Snow, that on average it takes eight months for a Hong Kong resident in Canada to apply from a work permit to a permanent residence. Is that true?
6 p.m.
Director General, International Platform, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
For the streams, for the public policies we've introduced for Hong Kong, the data is showing that it is under eight months right now.
6 p.m.
Liberal
Julie Dzerowicz Liberal Davenport, ON
Okay. That is excellent, as I understand it.
My last questions are for Ms. Chen.
Ms. Chen, is there a concern on the part of the People's Republic of China about Hong Kongers trying to emigrate to Canada? Are there political concerns? Are there any considerations the People's Republic has raised through Global Affairs about Hong Kongers coming to Canada?
6 p.m.
Executive Director, Greater China Political and Coordination, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
The PRC government is well aware of Canada's overall concerns around political developments in Hong Kong, but on this issue specifically, they have not raised it with us.
6 p.m.
Liberal
Julie Dzerowicz Liberal Davenport, ON
I'm trying to think if there's any other....
I think those are all of the questions from me.
6 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
You have 30 seconds left. You might as we well use it. Otherwise, I'll go to the next one.
6 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
Thank you very much.
Now we will go to my dear friend, Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe, for two-and-a-half minutes.
Go ahead, please.
6 p.m.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Ms. Chen, I want to follow up on my last questions. I'm trying to get a handle on this.
You said that you expressed your concerns about the national security law to the Hong Kong authorities.
The Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development issued a news release calling for the release of Jimmy Lai.
Thus far, you've been unable to tell us whether the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development agrees with the subcommittee's findings.
Did I understand correctly?
6 p.m.
Executive Director, Greater China Political and Coordination, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
Thank you.
Again, Canada's position on Jimmy Lai is very well-known to the Hong Kong authorities, and so forth. There was a unanimous consent motion in Parliament in December about the case of Jimmy Lai. It is my understanding that Minister Joly also voted in favour of that motion, given that it was unanimous.
6 p.m.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Thank you.
Is Canada calling for the release of Jimmy Lai, yes or no?
6 p.m.
Executive Director, Greater China Political and Coordination, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
I would say, again, that the PRC government and the Hong Kong authorities are aware of the unanimous consent motion approved in Parliament, which also included, of course, votes by our Minister of Foreign Affairs.
6 p.m.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
I just want you to tell us whether the Government of Canada supports the demand for the release of Jimmy Lai, yes or no.
That's the only question I have. It's really not complicated.
6:05 p.m.
Executive Director, Greater China Political and Coordination, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
To be absolutely 100% clear, we have not specifically requested the release of Jimmy Lai. However, we have expressed serious concerns about the trial of Jimmy Lai.
We continue to work with the U.K. government and others to ensure that we are maintaining a consistent advocacy approach around Mr. Lai. Again, because it is considered an important consular case for the U.K. government, we want to approach advocacy around his case with a great deal of respect and responsibility, but I can tell you that we have been in touch with his legal counsel and his family over time. Again, they are very much aware of the work of the Government of Canada on his case.
6:05 p.m.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
We're being told that the law violates human rights, that the department has concerns about the law, that the trial is a sham, but that Canada is not demanding Mr. Lai's release.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.