Maple News reports that Marco Mendicino, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, appeared before the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration on November 25 to discuss the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the nation’s immigration system. Accompanying him was Catrina Tapley, Deputy Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), along with other senior IRCC officials, to answer questions from Members of Parliament.
The session formed part of a larger parliamentary study—now in its sixth of eight hearings—focusing on how the pandemic has disrupted immigration policies, application procedures, and newcomer settlement in Canada. Minister Mendicino is tasked with advancing the current Liberal government’s immigration mandate, while Deputy Minister Tapley, as a senior public servant, is responsible for executing departmental operations.
During the hearing, Mendicino outlined key measures Canada has taken to adapt its immigration system amid the pandemic. Notably, he highlighted the successful implementation of a new virtual landing process for permanent residents, significantly reducing wait times. The Minister also noted that, for the week ending November 14, IRCC processed approximately 80% as many immigration decisions compared to the same period in 2019. Some immigration streams saw considerable year-over-year increases, including a 232% rise in the Provincial Nominee Program and a 557% jump in processing for the Protected Persons Class.
The Minister also shared developments in digitizing immigration processes. A new online portal for citizenship applications is being gradually rolled out. As of November 30, it became available to a limited number of applicants aged 18 to 54, with broader accessibility expected in the new year. This move reflects IRCC’s ongoing push towards modernization and digital transformation.
NDP MP Jenny Kwan raised critical concerns during the meeting, particularly regarding the challenges faced by applicants in the Caregiver Program. She urged the Minister to consider counting work interruptions caused by COVID-19 toward the 24-month experience requirement for caregivers. Kwan also advocated for a freeze on the age cut-off for dependent children to protect families from disqualification due to pandemic-related delays.
The committee will continue its hearings, with Minister Mendicino scheduled to make a further appearance on December 2 at 3:30 p.m. EST. These sessions are part of a broader effort to evaluate how Canada can maintain a responsive and humane immigration system in the face of global challenges.
Maple News will continue to monitor and report on developments from the Standing Committee and IRCC as Canada navigates its post-pandemic immigration strategy.