Citizenship and Immigration Committee on May 27th, 2010

[Terence Young, Conservative, Oakville, ON]

Thank you.

A huge amount of resources, Canadian resources, is used up with appeal after appeal based on false claims, etc. Those resources could perhaps be used to bring here refugees from other countries who are sitting in camps under some very terrible conditions.

You're on the public record for advocating a refugee protection system that distinguishes between bona fide refugees and false claims. I had a quote written down for you: in some cases, they “seek to remain by any means”. Do you think the proposed reforms will work in the public interest of granting asylum protection to those who need it most and deter abuse of the system for those who don't need it?

[Raphael Girard]

It will certainly, in its current form, unamended, provide protection, but there is very little deterrent that's evident. It may happen. The people who would abuse the system may believe the rhetoric and hold back, but there are no teeth in the system to ensure they do.

Putting in time constraints to move those cases along fast is wishful thinking. The record of the department is abysmal. Right now, routine business with this department takes a long time. A routine work permit renewal takes 55 working days. The transaction takes 10 minutes.

[Terence Young, Conservative, Oakville, ON]

Mr. Kafieh, I assume you know about the problems we've had with the system and delays that go up to nine years in some cases, with repeated appeals and the costs associated with that. You know that both the official opposition and the government party have recognized the considerable need for change. In fact, virtually every editorial board in Canada has agreed that the system needs to be reformed.

Outside of the RAD, it sounds to me like you're recommending to keep the system the way it is, with status quo. Don't you have any concerns about all the problems in the system and the fact that refugees in camps all over the world are left there because our resources are being used on false claims?

[James Kafieh]

I think there are things that we've spoken about that would call for changes. For example, on the way the initial determination body is selected, the process should be depoliticized. We have a process of appointments that takes a long time and to fill vacancies takes longer than necessary--

[Terence Young, Conservative, Oakville, ON]

Do you know that the act proposes that those people be civil servants?

[James Kafieh]

Yes--

[Terence Young, Conservative, Oakville, ON]

And specially trained, etc., so it would be depoliticized.

[James Kafieh]

Yes, but I'm not defending the existing system. This is the point you've made. I just want to clarify that we think the Immigration and Refugee Board's jurisdiction can be expanded modestly to deal with humanitarian and compassionate grounds and also with pre-removal risk assessment, which is something that could also be objectively handled at that level.

We don't support a process that's being suggested whereby people at the Immigration and Refugee Board essentially would be civil servants, a pure body of civil servants at the Immigration and Refugee Board. We think this would fetter the independence of the body and that it would be better if they were appointed for a fixed term through a non-political process based on competence.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Thank you.

I'm sorry, but your time is up, Mr. Young.

The time for all of you has come to an end.

On behalf of the committee, I thank you, Mr. Telegdi, Mr. Kafieh, Madame Ricard, Madame Pierre, and Mr. Girard, for your contribution and for coming here.

This meeting is adjourned until six o'clock.