Evidence of meeting #12 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was irb.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Conservative
Terence Young Conservative Oakville, ON
Thank you.
I'm not sure who would like to answer this question, so I'll ask it, and maybe somebody who specializes in this can speak up.
The minister made an earlier comment on the processing times in Europe, and I just wondered if you could comment on how our current processing times compare with those in Europe, and then how the proposed processing times would compare.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Program Policy, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
I think Mr. MacDougall and Ms. Irish can respond.
Director General, Refugees, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Mr. Chair, I'll start by saying that the proposed processing times we have are significantly more generous than those of comparable European countries, particularly for claimants in the safe country of origin category. For example, Norway processes such cases in about 48 hours. France seeks to process them in 15 days, and Portugal, as I recall, within about one week.
My colleague may have something else to add.
Conservative
Terence Young Conservative Oakville, ON
Maybe you can compare the proposed processing times under the new bill.
Director General, Refugees, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
All right.
Under our processing times, as the minister has mentioned, the eight-day information gathering or triage interview occurs. When a person arrives in the country or makes a claim, there are three days to determine whether that person is eligible. Eight days after that, the person would receive an interview. The hearing would be scheduled at that point within about 60 days. So the person would, in most scenarios, have a first-level decision about three months after their claim was made.
Conservative
Terence Young Conservative Oakville, ON
If someone were looking for a country to go to and were interested in jumping the queue or abusing the system or delaying things, would he or she therefore be less likely to want to come to Canada under the new processing system?
Director General, Refugees, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
We think it's certainly the case now that our long processing time is a draw, as the minister has mentioned, but our new timelines will deter that significantly.
Conservative
Terence Young Conservative Oakville, ON
In addition to being more fair, this process holds the potential, I would assume, to save a lot of money for taxpayers. Do you have any idea how much savings would result under the new bill in administrative costs, etc., and who would benefit the most from that?
Director General, Refugees, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
The proposed savings would mostly result from less time spent in the asylum system. Right now, a negative claimant spends about four and a half years in Canada. Under the new system, a failed claimant would spend approximately 20 months in Canada. Most of the cost savings, in fact virtually all of the savings, would accrue to provinces and territories, in their social services and education costs primarily. We expect that over the first five years of the system the cost savings would be up to $1.8 billion.
Director General, Refugees, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Up to $1.8 billion.
Director General, Refugees, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
And those savings would accrue to provinces and territories.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
Thank you very much.
I think that concludes our questions of you this afternoon, Mr. Linklater, Mr. MacDougall, Mr. Morton, Mr. Hill--
Bloc
Thierry St-Cyr Bloc Jeanne-Le Ber, QC
Mr. Chairman, according to our schedule we had until 5:30 p.m. and I know that there were other points to be considered after that but I would have one quick simple question to ask.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
Just a second. If you want to go another round, the Liberals have the first shot.
Are there any questions?
Liberal
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
Mr. Linklater, we have talked a lot about visas today. I mentioned that I myself requested them when we were in government. You remember Costa Rica. How many countries on the planet are not obliged to use visas by Canada currently?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Program Policy, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
I believe it's approximately 48 countries but I will have to ask my colleagues to check that.
Director General, Refugees, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Yes, 47 or 48 countries do not need visas for Canada.
Liberal
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
Fine. Have you considered a visa policy like those in other countries under which anyone coming to Canada would have to have a visa? Was that considered for immigration, as opposed to tabling a bill and deciding to monitor everything by labelling certain countries? Has any consideration been given to the possibility of Canada simply imposing a visa on everyone?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Program Policy, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Globally?
