Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Over the past eight years, as members of the board, we noted that there were delays between the time an individual arrived and remitted the form containing their personal information, on the one hand, and the time this individual was heard by a member, on the other hand. Things have changed over time. We are trying, with good reason, to ensure that the delay is as short as possible. It is not my job to define this role, but I agree, with regard to the process for hearing refugee claimants, that things should proceed expeditiously.
Over the years, I have noted that the length of the waiting period fluctuated. At present, it has been significantly reduced. Sometimes, more refugee claimants arrive in Canada due to the international situation. At other times, things are calmer, and there are fewer arrivals. In light of these variations, the waiting period can be shorter or longer. I think that everybody would agree that refugee claims should be processed as quickly as possible.
Each month, we are responsible for hearing a specific number of claims, and we do the best we can. Every day, we listen to what refugee claimants tell us. In each case, we apply the different sections of the legislation and the relevant case law.