Immigration

We live in a time of rising global uncertainty. It is more important than ever that the Canadian immigration system can respond to arising global crises in an expedient and flexible manner. Alarmingly, this is not the case.

Even before major global refugee crises such as the Afghanistan, and Ukrainian crises, IRCC has been struggling with massive backlogs in all the immigration streams. Delayed immigration application is the most common request for assistance at my office, with some applications delayed for years! Behind the delayed applications are separated families, missed opportunities, and in some cases, immigration is a life-and-death situation for people who need to leave dangerous situations.

To start, IRCC should stop the practice of returning applications when there are minor mistakes and missing information and documents that can be easily provided by applicants. IRCC must also end oppressive immigration policies such as the inhumane cap on parent/grandparents’ sponsorship applications, closed work permits for migrant workers, and the unfair treatment of caregivers and domestic workers.

Lack of resources for IRCC is the major root cause of delayed applications. I will continue to advocate for adequate resources for IRCC to process applications in consistently reasonable timeframes and for immigration policies that are more just.

Globe & Mail: Public Safety minister says he wants to push through refined warrantless powers to help police

Ms. Kwan signalled that the NDP would not support Bill C-2 without substantial changes.

“Even if the bill is adjusted somewhat, it is still very disturbing that warrantless access provisions remain intact. This allows intelligence agencies, police and other public officials to conduct surveillance operations without proper authorization,” she said in an e-mail. “If those are the only changes, the NDP still cannot support this bill.”

Mr. Anandasangaree told reporters that he would be open to possible amendments to immigration provisions, which remain unchanged in Bill C-12. They restrict the ability to claim asylum and give the immigration minister the power to cancel visa applications en masse.

On Thursday, a coalition of civil-society organizations, including civil liberties, and refugee and migrant-rights groups, called for the withdrawal of both bills.

“Bill C-12 does not fix Bill C-2; it fast-tracks some of the most-egregious aspects, while still moving forward with the rest,” Tim McSorley, national co-ordinator of the International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group, said in a statement.

Click link to read the news story - https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-strong-border-bill-c2-c12-anandasangaree-police-rcmp/

Statement on Amendments to the Lost Canadians Bill

Globe & Mail: Public Safety Minister set to table new version of strong borders bill after slew of criticism

The NDP’s public safety and immigration critic, Jenny Kwan, has also expressed serious concerns about the bill and, at its second reading debate last month, called for it to be withdrawn entirely.

The bill has yet to progress to its committee stage or to the Senate. But as this is a minority government, it will need the support of MPs from other parties to push it through.

Parliamentary papers that indicate future business in the House of Commons show that Mr. Anandasangaree is due to present another strong borders bill within days.

An analysis by the Library of Parliament, reported by The Globe and Mail in August, warned that the government’s proposed strong-borders legislation risked infringing on Canadians’ Charter rights if passed, including the right to be treated equally under the law.

The study by experts at the library, which carries out research for MPs and senators, also noted that Bill C-2 could lead to discriminatory profiling and targeting by law enforcement and that some of its provisions – including a proposal to allow Canada Post to open letters – would jeopardize the privacy of Canadians.

Click link to read the news story - https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-strong-borders-bill-c-2/

National Post: Calls grow for Carney government to explain statement banning Irish hip-hop trio

NDP MP Jenny Kwan, who this week wrote to Metlege Diab seeking answers on the issue, said the fact that Gasparro announced the government ban before the court case against one of the band members had been settled raises more questions about what transpired.

“Canada needs to make sure that such decisions are accountable and that they’re not subject to arbitrary and political weaponization,” she told National Post.

“It’s really important that we actually get clarity on what went on. Is this a sanctioned announcement from the government? Is the band Kneecap actually banned? Were they ever banned?”

Click link to read the news story - https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/calls-grow-for-carney-government-to-explain-statement-banning-irish-hip-hop-trio

HANSARD: Was the Parliamentary Secretary authorized to announce Kneecap ineligible to enter Canada?

Global News: Is Kneecap banned from Canada or not? NDP urges answer in high-profile case

The federal immigration minister is facing increasing pressure to clarify whether the Irish hip-hop group Kneecap is indeed banned from entering Canada, or if the Liberal official who announced the move was approved to make that assertion in a contentious social media post.

In a letter to Immigration Minister Lena Diab on Thursday, NDP MP Jenny Kwan, the party’s immigration critic, urged Diab to say whether the group is indeed banned after the minister and other officials have repeatedly refused to answer questions on the case for almost two weeks.

The band says it has yet to receive any official notice about an entry ban or denial of their electronic visa authorizations.

“Canadians and visitors to Canada deserve to know that they are not subject to arbitrary and politicized weaponization of public policy for political purposes,” Kwan wrote.

“We need to rebuild integrity into the system in this time of misinformation.”

Liberal MP Vince Gasparro, the parliamentary secretary for combating crime, announced on Sept. 19 “on behalf of the Government of Canada” that the band’s members had been deemed ineligible for entry ahead of scheduled concerts this month, based “on the advice of our officials.”

Kwan wants Diab to answer if the officials Gasparro referenced are in Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), and if she or other IRCC officials authorized Gasparro to speak on their behalf publicly.

The letter also asks if Kneecap were ever formally banned from entering Canada or if they are permitted to enter, and if the Prime Minister’s Office or any other government officials or agencies were involved in approving Gasparro’s announcement.

Click to read and watch the news story - https://globalnews.ca/news/11461642/kneecap-entry-ban-ndp-jenny-kwan-vince-gasparro/

Open Letter to Immigration Minister on Vince Gasparro's authorization to band Irish band entry

Click to [ Read more ] to read Jenny's full letter

HANSARD: Petition to speed up Gaza family reunification applications

Canadian Press: NDP calls on Ottawa to do more to get approved refugees out of Gaza

OTTAWA - NDP immigration critic Jenny Kwan said Monday the government needs to do more to get people out of Gaza who applied for temporary visas through an extended family reunification program.

The program stopped accepting visa application on March 6, 2025, when the 5,000-applicant cap was reached. As of Aug. 1, just 860 people had arrived in Canada under the program.

Kwan, who held a press conference Monday in the foyer of the House of Commons alongside Palestinians whose family members are stuck in Gaza, said the government can find other ways to gather the necessary biometric data in war zones.

"There has been zero political will to try and bring people to safety. We have had situations whereby it is difficult for families to get their biometrics," Kwan said.

"So we are demanding action from the government. We want alternatives to the biometric measure, we want the government to evacuate and bring people out. We want the government and (Global Affairs Canada) to get on with it so we can negotiate exit visas."

The Canadian Press has reached out to Immigration Minister Lena Diab for comment but has not yet received a response.

Click link to read the news story - https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/ndp-calls-on-ottawa-to-do-more-to-get-approved-refugees-out-of-gaza/article_12053642-d4b5-510c-be8b-a3f180ce5286.html

CPAC Headline Politics: NDP MP Raises Concerns over Gaza Family Reunification Program

Speaking with reporters on Parliament Hill, NDP MP Jenny Kwan raises concerns about the federal government’s temporary resident visa (TRV) program for Palestinian Canadians’ family members in Gaza.

She is joined by Omar Omar (founder of the Gazan Canadians League), Najla Alzaanin (Gazan-Canadian with family members awaiting evacuation under the TRV program), Hana Marku (immigration and refugee lawyer), and Gur Tsabar (member of Jews Say No to Genocide Coalition and The Movement Media Hub). (no interpretation)

Click link to watch the press conference in Ottawa - https://www.cpac.ca/headline-politics/episode/ndp-mp-raises-concerns-over-gaza-family-reunification-program?id=bf9593e7-c636-446a-b77b-fab057086ae5