Citizenship and Immigration committee  It's the national security screening division.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  The package is in place already. It's delivered to all our employees when they join the division, but we are looking at enhancing it, as it was one of the recommendations of the OAG report.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I'll do my best. Sections 34 and 35 of IRPA are what we're dealing with principally here: membership in terrorist organizations; membership in foreign intelligence services that don't espouse democratic ideals; and membership in regimes suspected of systematic war crimes or crimes against humanity.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  In terms of designated terrorist entities, it's yes, and for designated war crimes regimes, it's yes.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  The first and most important screening tool, of course, is the application form. We have to start with what the applicant tells us about himself. If that hits against certain security screening indicators of concern, then we have the option of asking CIC to go back to the applicant and conduct an interview or request more detailed information from the applicant.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I think that is a good way to put it. Usually, but not invariably, we do work very closely together.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I think, if I may say so, our recommendations are as fully integrated into the decision-making process as they can be. They are taken very seriously by CIC.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I'll start. In the CBSA national security screening division there are approximately 60 employees. Within the last year we have moved to what we call a tiered service standard to ensure that the speed with which we process applications is in line with the priorities of the Government of Canada.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  It's not all in the security screening.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  We have set up a performance measurement system very recently, since the OAG report. It was one of our highest priorities. We've done that together with our partner, CIC, because part of the performance metrics we want to introduce is an assurance that CIC, our client, is satisfied with the service they're getting.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  That does happen, and we need to remind ourselves that CBSA recommends that the final decision-maker is CIC, and CIC has the prerogative to factor in other elements such as national interest.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Let me provide you with some statistics, if you don't mind. CIC receives approximately 1.7 million visa applications per year from visa-required countries overseas. The visa officer does the first triage of them. The visa officers in missions overseas decide which ones need to be referred to CBSA for further examination because of suspicions of security concerns.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  The other possible biometric that has been proven to be reliable is retina scans. Of course, they're already being used in, for example, CBSA's NEXUS program, which speeds up or facilitates the crossing of the border. I'm not aware of whether retina scans were ever considered by CIC in setting up their biometrics program, or, if so, for what reason they might have been rejected.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I think the answer is that the government—and other parts of the government in consultations that certainly have included CBSA—has come to that conclusion.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  But the actual removals are conducted by CBSA.