Thank you for the question, Mr. Chair.
I think the minister was correct in saying that the reforms that are being proposed here form part of a very balanced package that looks to ensure that, as Mr. Bevilacqua has said, we don't create new bottlenecks in the system, as has been the case in the last number of years. Ensuring the timeliness of decisions at the front end is critical to ensuring that those people who have a founded basis for protection from Canada are able to make their claim in a timely manner and are able to do that without being delayed unnecessarily.
As the members are probably aware, it now takes approximately 19 months for a hearing to be held at the IRB for a claimant. Under the proposed reforms, that will happen within 60 days of the triage interview, which should happen within eight days of arrival in Canada. Our view is that this should provide sufficient time for individuals to be able to provide information to IRB officials at the first instance within the eight-day triage period, as opposed to the almost 30-day period that is available now for completing the personal information form. Also, within the ensuing 60 days, there should be sufficient opportunity to engage counsel as required or if necessary and to gather additional evidence to present at the initial hearing at the refugee determination division.
With this more consistent and coherent collection of information at the front end now, we think the decision-makers at the first hearing at the refugee determination division will have better information to be able to make decisions more quickly and to speed up the processing of cases.
As the minister also mentioned, with the introduction of these streamlined approaches, there is the flexibility now to introduce a refugee appeal division, which will, within four months of a negative decision at the RPD, allow for a hearing based on the merits of the first decision. It will also allow for the introduction of new evidence, which has not been the case to date. With a negative decision there, it will allow for, with leave, appeal to the Federal Court.