Evidence of meeting #101 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 42nd Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was irb.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Director General, Policy, Planning and Corporate Affairs Branch, Immigration and Refugee Board
We'd have to get back to you with that breakdown. We have the number of complaints that were made, but we don't have readily at hand the breakdown between GIC appointees versus public servants.
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
If you could send that to the clerk, we'd appreciate it.
Director General, Policy, Planning and Corporate Affairs Branch, Immigration and Refugee Board
Sure.
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Yesterday we had the minister appear before us on the estimates. He kept saying that you, the IRB, are finding efficiencies to process claims that are in the backlog.
Can you give us some examples of these new-found efficiencies in processing asylum seekers?
Acting Chairperson, Immigration and Refugee Board
Certainly. We have an expedited process for certain claimants from certain countries. The number of countries where we've moved those to a fast-track where a paper review is used has expanded. I think, off the top of my head, we finalized about 2,200 claims through that process. We've instituted a short hearing process now, because we are not able to function according to the regulated timelines. We have flexibility to identify cases and to case-manage more effectively. We were able to identify cases that are going through the short hearing process because we're now controlling when the cases are put on the schedule.
The refugee appeal division has issued three jurisprudential guides.
Conservative
Acting Chairperson, Immigration and Refugee Board
On the GIC side, I believe it's 24 at the moment. On the public service side, we don't have any vacancies.
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
The legislation calls for hearings within 60 days, and you're clearly well beyond that now.
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
You're talking about how you're going to try to improve that. How do you square your responsibility under the law with your current predicament?
Acting Chairperson, Immigration and Refugee Board
The regulations prescribe the timelines. They also have a safety valve or a clause in there that enables the board to derogate from that where operational requirements demand it.
Acting Chairperson, Immigration and Refugee Board
That's what we've had to resort to, because of the volume of clients.
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Well, we have a problem.
The minister talked about monies in the budget that will go to solve some of these issues. What portion of the money in the budget was it? I I can't remember. Was it $70 million?
Acting Chairperson, Immigration and Refugee Board
The board got $73.7 million.
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
What portion of that will be used to fill the vacancies, or is that a problem? Is money a problem?
Acting Chairperson, Immigration and Refugee Board
I would say the bigger challenge we have with that money is to be able to find and hire competent decision-makers who are willing to come to the board for a short term.
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
I don't understand that. Isn't there a set number of board members?
Conservative
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
So why are we talking about vacancies? I don't understand that.
Acting Chairperson, Immigration and Refugee Board
Well, when you talk about vacancies, you're talking about the Governor in Council side.
Acting Chairperson, Immigration and Refugee Board
The public servants, on the public service side—