Thank you, Mr. Chair.
This amendment proposes to enshrine into law the requirement of an oral hearing unless the application is allowed on paper without a hearing.
This amendment spells out that the pre-removal risk assessment officers must conduct an oral hearing providing an applicant with all of the rights and opportunities to present their case. The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration has recommended to our committee that this measure be adopted.
As a lawyer, I feel very strongly that this improves the legislation and would provide certainty to applicants and legal counsel working in the field. I know this was also recommended by stakeholders in their presentations to various committees in government.