A simmering conflict has erupted within the House of Commons immigration committee, escalating into a direct clash between a top bureaucrat and a leading Conservative MP. The dispute centers on accusations that publicly shared clips of committee proceedings are endangering government employees.
Deputy Immigration Minister Harpreet S. Kochhar sent a letter to the committee chair alleging that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) staff are facing a surge in harassment, abuse, and even in-person confrontations. He directly links this to “decontextualized clips” of testimony posted online by committee members and their staff.
The letter details disturbing incidents, including one where a colleague was “recently confronted” by a member of the public fueled by a misleading clip. Kochhar implored the committee to urge its members to consider the potential impact of their postings on the safety and well-being of public servants.
Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel Garner swiftly fired back, questioning the origins of the letter and its implications. She suggested the accusations were a veiled attempt to stifle public access to committee proceedings, a cornerstone of parliamentary transparency.
Rempel Garner addressed her concerns directly to Immigration Minister Lena Diab, expressing skepticism that such a letter would be issued without the minister’s knowledge. She demanded accountability, hinting at potential disciplinary action if Kochhar acted independently.
However, if Diab *did* approve the letter, Rempel Garner argued, it would reinforce growing concerns about the minister’s ability to effectively manage her portfolio. She pointedly suggested reporting any perceived criminal threats to the police, rather than attempting to control the narrative through bureaucratic intervention.
The exchange took a particularly sharp turn during a recent committee meeting. Rempel Garner bluntly told Diab, “You are a very bad minister.” The minister’s response was unexpected, invoking her Lebanese-Canadian heritage with a comment about preferring traditional foods to “word salad.”
Rempel Garner dismissed the response as bizarre, stating it would likely be noted in the minister’s performance reviews. The incident underscored the escalating tension and increasingly personal nature of the conflict.
Rempel Garner further accused the Liberals of hypocrisy, referencing a contentious 2024 Status of Women committee meeting where a Liberal MP’s aggressive questioning reduced two witnesses – survivors of domestic violence – to tears. She highlighted the lack of apology from the MP as evidence of partisan behavior.
Ultimately, Rempel Garner vowed that baseless accusations would not deter the committee from holding the government accountable. She accused the minister of attempting to censor parliamentarians and infringe upon their rights, concluding her letter with a scathing, “Shame on you.”
