Immigration Minister Lena Diab told the Commons Monday night that the government is counting on people in Canada without valid visas to leave on their own, refusing to provide details on reports that up to 500,000 deportees remain in the country.“Anybody whose visa expired is expected to leave,” said Diab, adding that enforcement is not the responsibility of her department.Blacklock's Reporter says Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner challenged Diab on why so many temporary visas continue to be issued despite a healthcare crisis and job shortages. “Why is she persisting in letting in hundreds of thousands of people when Canada is in the middle of a health care crisis?” Rempel Garner asked.Diab responded that the government is “working towards sustainable immigration by reducing our temporary resident numbers,” but Rempel Garner called the claim “baloney,” citing statistics showing an increase in temporary residents. She noted 290,000 foreign students were admitted so far this year and argued the numbers remain too high given housing shortages and limited access to family doctors.The immigration department’s 2024 briefing note estimated as many as 500,000 deportees have stayed in Canada despite orders to leave. “There are no accurate figures representing the number or composition of undocumented immigrants residing in Canada,” the note said.“How many have been removed?” Rempel Garner pressed. Diab dismissed the numbers as “taken way out of context” and reiterated that those with expired visas are expected to leave voluntarily.Rempel Garner pressed further, calling the system “meaningless” if removals do not happen and asked if Diab would admit the system is broken. Diab replied that Canada Border Services Agency handles removals.Other MPs also raised concerns about the lack of clarity on how many temporary residents actually leave Canada. MP Brad Redekopp questioned how immigration targets can be set without knowing the number of people who have left.Diab repeated that those whose visas expire are expected to depart voluntarily but did not provide concrete figures or a clear plan for enforcement.
