Refugee advocates are questioning Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab’s grasp of her portfolio after a Radio-Canada podcast interview in which she asked reporters to repeat the name of Singh v. Canada—the 1985 Supreme Court decision that guaranteed Charter rights and an oral hearing for asylum seekers. The clip, published October 7 and widely shared by CBC and other outlets, has sparked calls for the minister’s resignation. Diab defended Bill C-12, the government’s March 2026 law that restricts oral hearings for late-filed claims, saying it respects the Charter. When pressed on Singh’s implications she said she would “check with her team.” Critics, including the Canadian Council for Refugees and McGill professor emeritus François Crépeau, called the response “shocking” and an “issue of competence.” The controversy matters for global-mobility planners because the minister is steering the 2027-2029 Immigration Levels Plan, due by 1 November, and is central to file backlogs that affect work permits and permanent-residence processing. Political instability at the top of IRCC could delay policy roll-outs or trigger stricter refugee controls that spill over into business immigration streams. Opposition parties have seized on the gaffe to argue the government lacks a coherent asylum strategy. Diab’s office later claimed the minister misunderstood the French-language question, but English-language committee transcripts show similar deferrals. The Prime Minister’s Office says Diab still enjoys the prime minister’s confidence, yet insiders report cabinet frustration with IRCC delivery targets. While the episode does not directly change visa rules, it signals heightened scrutiny of IRCC leadership. Corporations with pending Global Skills Strategy or start-up visa files should monitor possible staffing or mandate shifts after the Levels Plan is tabled.
Source: Today in Canada
