Lena Metlege Diab
Halifax West, Nova Scotia · Liberal · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, I do want to wish the colleague a very happy July and August, wherever she is with her family. Perhaps in the fall she will come back with a bit of a better spirit. We have continuously said that no one can commit a crime with impunity. Serious crimes deserve serious consequences.”
“Mr. Speaker, we all know that anyone who commits a crime in this country, regardless of their immigration status, be it Canadian or not, is treated according to the law, to the fullest extent of the law. Judges make decisions. There is absolutely nothing in the immigration law that allows for sentences to be discounted.”
“Mr. Speaker, that colleague has asked that question a number of times, and it has been answered. Let me tell him what Canadians do want to know. Canadians know that the government is focused on building a stronger economy to responsibly manage migration.”
“Mr. Speaker, I have good news. Here is what Canadians need to know. Our plan for responsible, sustainable immigration is working. The non-permanent resident population has declined. We are focused on attracting skilled talent, like health care workers, construction workers, researchers and engineers. The numbers do not lie.”
“Mr. Speaker, I have been clear. Just because someone has a Canadian ancestor, this does not mean they are automatically eligible for citizenship. They must definitively prove their link to Canada at each and every generation. Genealogy websites are not enough.”
“Mr. Speaker, let us get the facts straight. I answered four hours of questions in committee of the whole for all Canadians to hear. I was very clear in my response that IRGC officials are inadmissible to Canada and have no place in our country. Some hon. members: Oh, oh! Hon.”
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“Mr. Chair, again, what we did in this piece of legislation was ensure that citizenship by descent cannot be passed on indefinitely. We have provided clarity, we have provided structure, and we have provided control to citizenship by descent.”
“Mr. Chair, I think the Conservatives have a real problem with this. I just want to say that the government has acted to protect the value of citizenship by passing this piece of legislation and ensuring that people value our citizenship and our Canadian—”
“Mr. Chair, I am going to say it one more time: IRGC officials are inadmissible to Canada. There is a ban in place. CBSA works forcefully to remove them, and we are investing in our policing and our officers to do exactly that.”
“Mr. Chair, let me just set the record straight. In my first year as minister, we had a 59% reduction in asylum claims in early 2026 compared to 2024, temporary foreign work permits are down 75% in 2026 compared to 2024, and new student visas—”
“Mr. Chair, it is a wonderful question, because I was a provincial minister of immigration for eight years. Immigration is a shared responsibility between the two levels of government, and in my job, I will continue to work with the provinces and territories accordingly.”
“Mr. Chair, we share Canadians' concern, and we are working to ensure that we manage migration responsibly, because that is what Canadians expect. I have worked very strongly with all provinces and territories. In fact, so far we have held five meetings together.”
“Mr. Chair, as I have said, we have taken the necessary steps to respond to the Ebola outbreak and protect public health in coordination with our partners, including the Public Health Agency of Canada, Canada Border Services Agency and Global Affairs—”
“Mr. Speaker, what Canadians need to know is that, because of a Liberal budget and because of a Liberal bill, Bill C-12 , and as confirmed by the Parliamentary Budget Officer, there will be $400 million in savings, $200 million plus another $200 million, in the interim health care coverage, because asylum numbers have gone down and because we brought forth Bill C-12 to curb exactly those situations.”
“Mr. Speaker, as I have said the last number of days, the Parliamentary Budget Officer confirmed what we already know and that is this health program provides limited, temporary, essential health coverage for vulnerable people. The cost is tied to volumes. The good news is our volumes have gone down by 59%. Taxpayers will save over $200 million annually because of the IFHP changes that we have instituted.”
“Mr. Speaker, the member knows that there is nothing in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act that allows judges to discount any sentences. She also knows that, Canadian or not, no one can commit a crime on Canadian soil with impunity, including those who are on asylum and anyone else. We have brought in measures. We have brought in criminal bills. The Conservatives keep avoiding voting with us. We expect them to let us, in the next couple of weeks—”
“Mr. Speaker, I know that member and I respect him, and I know he knows that I am here to manage immigration and migration responsibly to strengthen our rural communities. That is exactly what we are doing. Our asylum claims are down 59%. The PBO confirmed with us that because of the measures we have taken with co-pays and with Bill C-12 , we will be reducing those costs by $400 million annually. We will continue to protect those who are in need of protection.”
“Mr. Speaker, as I said yesterday, this is a temporary program for health coverage. It covers essential services. The cost is tied to volumes. The good news, which the Conservatives do not want to hear, is that we brought the volumes down by 59% because of a Liberal budget, because of a Liberal bill. As the PBO said this week, we will save taxpayers over $400 million annually.”
“Mr. Speaker, this is what the PBO actually said today. The PBO said that within three years we will see substantial savings from changes to the supplemental coverage of $200‑plus million. We will also see another $200‑plus million in annual savings from the asylum reform measures that we took in Bill C-12 . I thank the member for finally agreeing to put that law into action.”
“Mr. Speaker, let us do this one more time. This is what we are actually doing. The interim federal health program covers limited temporary health coverage to vulnerable people who are not yet eligible for provincial coverage. It covers essential services. It is not for luxury items, and the cost is tied to volumes. As I have said, over and over again, we have reduced that volume by 60% from 2024. We will keep reducing that pressure.”
“Mr. Speaker, I do not know what that member does not understand. I have said yes. I will be there for the four hours. There is nothing magical about that. That is exactly why I am here. Let me continue, though, about the Parliamentary Budget Officer. Let me remind people that claimants are not just service users. They are also taxpayers. The people she is talking about are real human beings. We give them work permits. In 2023, the budget officer confirmed, the amount that went into general revenue for this population equated the amounts that they were getting.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am actually very glad to receive this question today because the Parliamentary Budget Officer verified, today, what we have known all along. That is that the reasons for the costs are tied to volumes, and volumes are coming down. We have substantially reduced the asylum numbers by 60%. Within three years, there will be $200 million in annual savings from changes to the supplemental coverage that we have put in place. We are taking action and it is working.”
“Mr. Speaker, Canadians expect transparency and honesty, not bullying and degrading from the member and people she works with. I have said I am here today and am here Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. I am here at the committee of the whole, and I very much look forward to answering all their questions, because Canadians know that the government is doing the job they have elected us to do.”
“Mr. Speaker, the question is ridiculous coming from the member. I am here today, I am here every day this week and I am here on Thursday. How ridiculous can one be? We have, in the last 12 months, acted for Canadians. We have managed migration. The facts prove it. The asylum claims are down. Temporary resident population is down. There are new express entry systems to fast-track doctors, tradespeople and people we need in rural communities. Our francophone immigration is proceeding at—”
“Mr. Speaker, let me answer this question in the preferred language of the member because she seems to be really confused. Our government is laying the foundation of a comprehensive exit-tracking system, one that the Conservatives or anybody could have done over 100 or 200 years ago. However, we are doing that. As we said, temporary resident status is temporary. People are expected to leave when they finish. On this side of the House, we are focused on attracting health care workers and tradespeople to strengthen our rural economies and communities, and we will continue to—”
“On the contrary, Mr. Speaker, our plan is working quite well. As we have already stated, no individual associated with the current or former Iranian regime has been admitted into Canada. (1505) [ English ] No IRGC official attended the congress. I did not authorize the document. There was no decision that was taken on that. I have spoken to officials to ensure that we have a robust system. We will continue to hold the Iranian regime to account and we will protect Canadians. As I said, we are building—”
“Mr. Speaker, we have a plan that works. Under this minister, the number of asylum seekers has decreased, the number of new temporary residents has decreased, and we are setting records on economic immigration and attracting French-speaking immigrants. We will continue to deliver results for all Canadians.”
“Mr. Speaker, let us talk about the official figures. If we compare the first two months of 2026 with the first two months of 2024, we see that asylum applications have fallen by two-thirds and that arrivals of temporary residents have dropped by more than 70%. We are restoring control, balance and sustainability to immigration. The facts prove it, and Canadians can see it for themselves.”
“Mr. Speaker, let me continue with my list because I need a couple of hours for that. We are bringing our numbers down. We are strengthening oversight. We have an action plan that would restore integrity to our immigration system. CBSA removed 22,000 people from the country last year. We brought in Bill C-12 , which the Conservatives opposed in the beginning, but they saw the light at the end. That bill will put additional security in place. I have also put in place the foundation of an exit tracking system, which Canada needs in this country.”
“Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the love from members on the other side. I know they know that we are restoring control, balance, sustainability and integrity to our immigration system. The facts show this. We have new express entry categories to grow our economy. We have strengthened our rural immigration pathways. We are facilitating work permits for researchers and Ph.D. students. We have surpassed our francophone immigration targets. The list can go on. We have 5,000 additional physicians coming to—”
“Mr. Speaker, the program the member is speaking about represents 0.2% of the total health spending for Canada. I think the Conservatives had better get their facts straight and stop fearmongering off of the backs of people who are vulnerable and need to be protected. We will continue to do what is right for Canadians to protect Canadians and everyone in Canada.”
“Mr. Speaker, the cost of health care for an asylum claimant is tied to volumes. The good news is that the asylum claims have gone down. If we compare the first two months of this year to 2024, it has gone down by two-thirds. That is good news for Canada, and with Bill C-12 , we will continue to reduce those claims.”
“Mr. Speaker, we are deeply concerned about the ongoing situation in Gaza. Anyone looking to come to Canada, including international students, must meet our visa requirements. We understand that this can be challenging, but it is necessary. IRCC will continue to process study permit applications for those students in Gaza, and our visa application centres in neighbouring countries are offering expedited processing where possible. We will continue to do everything we can for the students in Gaza and everywhere else.”
“Mr. Speaker, temporary status is exactly that: temporary. This is nothing new. Under our plan, Canada has set clear targets for temporary residents and extensions. We are sticking to our plan, but our expectation is clear: When a permit expires, the permit holder must leave. We will maintain our targets and enforce our rules.”
“Mr. Speaker, Canadians elected this government last year because they know that it has a plan. Our plan has results. It is not based on a script, as happens on the other side. Over the last year we have reduced temporary residents by more than half. We brought down the asylum seeker numbers by more than a third. We have refocused economic immigration like it has never been done before. Canadians can see that this government is focused and has a plan.”
“Mr. Speaker, as I said a couple of times already this morning, since 2025, 100% of discrepancies that were referred by the educational institutions to IRCC received follow-ups. The high-risk ones were fully investigated. The results are clear. We welcome the recommendation. We will continue to improve our systems, but the Auditor General made it clear that we had already started to implement all of those prior to her commencing the report.”
“Mr. Speaker, let me tell Canadians, this member and his caucus that the report examined 18 months. The government had already initiated improvements to the system way before the audit started. The Auditor General confirmed that the system is tightened, the student visas have been examined, and improvements have taken place. Since 2025, 100% of referrals from institutions have been examined.”
“Mr. Speaker, let me repeat for that member and his entire caucus. As I said, since 2025, 100% of the discrepancies reported were followed up. They were followed up 100% of the time since 2025, with the high risk investigated. The Auditor General confirmed improvements took place. IRCC has tightened its approach, and we have control over the student visas. The numbers prove it.”
“Mr. Speaker, we support the Auditor General's recommendations and have been taking action since 2025. In fact, 100% of cases flagged by institutions are followed up on, and we are investigating high-risk cases. The results are clear. Controls and checks are being strengthened. The number of student arrivals has decreased by more than 60%. We are restoring integrity to the system and getting it under control.”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her excellent work. Last week, on the International Day of La Francophonie, I announced new funding in support of francophone immigration. With these investments, we are strengthening the ability of francophone minority communities to attract and retain skilled workers. That is how we are going to reach our objectives and ensure the vitality of French here, in Canada.”
“Mr. Speaker, I really feel sad for that member who always sees her cup as half empty. We have a plan. We have a system that is working. TD, Stats Canada, the Parliamentary Budget Officer and CMHC have all commented that our plan is working. Over the last year, we have reduced temporary resident arrivals by more than half. We brought the asylum numbers down by a third. We refocused on economic immigration like never before. Canadians see that this new government has a plan. The plan is working and that is what we will continue to do.”
“Mr. Speaker, we commend the work of the Auditor General. We are focusing on identifying fraudsters and those who attempt to deceive us. We are improving our case reporting and prioritization processes and are closely monitoring students who do not comply with our rules. We take the integrity of all our programs very seriously.”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for her performance. With regard to the Auditor General, we welcome that report. We agree that strong oversight helps improve the international student program. We will improve how cases are flagged and prioritized, and will consistently follow up on potentially non-compliant students. Our focus is on identifying organizers of coordinated fraud and those who attempt to deceive the system. We take the integrity of all our programs very seriously.”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Longueuil—Saint-Hubert for his question. Yes, we fully understand the challenges that businesses and communities are facing. The good news is that I have been working closely with Quebec to come up with a solution, and today we announced a new measure designed to help workers in the process of obtaining permanent residency contribute to Quebec for up to an additional year. We are fulfilling the mandate we were given, and we will continue to listen to Quebeckers.”
“moved: Motion That, in accordance with section 9 of the Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act, S.C. 2024, c. 16, s. 113, the House approve the appointment of Anton Boegman as Foreign Influence Transparency Commissioner, for a term of seven years. (Government Business No. 8)”
“Mr. Speaker, let us be clear here. In 2024, the former government listed the IRGC as a terrorist entity in Canada. IRGC officials who are found in Canada have had their visas cancelled. They have lost their status, and they are being removed by CBSA. We will continue to do that. Any permit extensions have not been granted. They will be removed. On this side of the House, we will continue to stand with the Iranian people. We will support the CBSA and do everything necessary to protect the safety of Canadians.”
“Mr. Speaker, let me be clear about the facts. Officers rigorously review each and every claim before it reaches the IRB, and nobody can claim asylum in Canada without questioning. To keep Canadians safe, CBSA does the front-end security screening on all adult refugee claimants. There is no rubber-stamping of any files or any claims. Each one is assessed individually on the merits by highly trained decision-makers. The government worked hard to bring asylum claims down by more than a third last year. We will keep working hard to do that. We have Bill C-12 in front of us.”
“Mr. Speaker, with respect to immigration, the government has reduced the number of asylum claims by one-third. The number of international students in Canada has fallen by one-third. From July to October 2025, Canada's population declined slightly after several years. We have increased economic immigration to 64% in order to attract world-class talent. We are building a strong immigration system and a strong Canada.”
“Mr. Speaker, we are building an immigration system that keeps Canada strong. That is our mission. That is our mandate. That is what Canadians elected us to do. That is what we will continue to do. In June, we introduced legislation, Bill C-2 , to protect the asylum system against sudden increases in claims. The Conservatives opposed it. In October, we brought forward new legislation, Bill C-12 , that would protect our borders and strengthen the immigration system. The Conservatives have delayed it at every stage. We are building an immigration system that is sustainable and that will keep Canada strong.”
“Mr. Speaker, my record of work on immigration speaks for itself. We are taking back control of the immigration system. We are returning immigration to sustainable levels. Our asylum levels are down by a third. The number of international students is down by a third. The number of temporary foreign workers is down by a half. We have exceeded our francophone immigration targets. We are bringing global talents. From July to October 2025, the population of Canada decreased slightly. We are on track, and we have met all our targets.”
“Mr. Speaker, the job that I have is never easy. It is one of the toughest jobs in government, and the reason is that many Canadians and many people are looking to our government to control immigration and to keep it sustainable. With regard to the temporary residents, we have targets and we have ranges. People who are on temporary status have the opportunity to extend. They also have the opportunity to use some of our permanent pathways. Otherwise, they are expected to leave.”
“Mr. Speaker, the new government takes these issues very seriously. That is exactly why our mandate was to restore immigration and to strengthen our immigration system. I agree with the foreign affairs minister that our system is the envy of the world. We are proud of the system we have. We have curved asylum by one-third. We have introduced measures to bring in physicians and health care workers, global talent. Work with us— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!”
“Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we will never jeopardize the safety and health of Canadians. Our program keeps all Canadians safe. We will continue to work here, and we are asking the other parties to work with us for all Canadians, including Quebeckers.”
“Mr. Speaker, that is not true. That is not true at all. We are strengthening our borders and we are making it more difficult for people to abuse our system. We reduced the number of asylum seekers by 33% last year. Bill C-12, which we passed, will improve our systems. We are here to work for all Canadians, for all Quebeckers, for everyone in every province, including those who truly need our help.”
“Mr. Speaker, we have a robust immigration system. Our system works. We have an IRB that handles claims. The people who are inadmissible and ineligible are not going to the board; they are ruled out. Those who clearly fit in the system are in there, and we will continue to honour our humanitarian, constitutional and international obligations.”
“Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we are focused on strengthening our immigration system and building Canada strong. If the Conservatives were really serious about health care, they would support our investments in hospitals, they would support dental care, they would support pharmacare and they would support the immigration program under the global talent stream that I just announced. Last week, the first physicians and surgeons were picked under that program to care for Canadians and everyone in Canada.”