Evidence of meeting #108 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 border.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
I need a “yes” or “no”. Otherwise, what are the challenges you've expressed to the Americans?
Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Program Policy, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
I can briefly outline them verbally if you'd like.
Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Program Policy, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
There are essentially three main challenges that we feel exist with the STCA in the current environment. One, it's 14 years old. Two, it doesn't reflect the modern technologies we have at our availability to assess and identify individuals, in other words, biometrics. We can exceed this concept of “line of sight” at the port of entry by simple biometrics checks. Three, there is the absolute principle that it relies on the actual agreement, which is that you avail yourself to protection in the first country where you can.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Thank you.
When did this expression of concerns with American officials occur?
Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Program Policy, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Do you mean at the working level?
Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Program Policy, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
We've been in discussions for several months with the Americans.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Was that at the direction of the minister, or was the minister aware of those conversations?
Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Program Policy, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
We did not enter exchanges with the U.S. at the direction of the minister, though we made sure the government was always comfortable with how we working at the working level.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Can you please table any documentation or conversations with this committee via PIN, text message, email, or otherwise that you've had with the minister's department regarding your conversations on this with the Americans?
Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Program Policy, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Again, Chair, we will take that under advisement and go back to the department to determine that.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Thank you.
Can you also please table with this committee the list of meetings that Canadian department officials have had with American officials within the last two years regarding the Canada–United States safe third country agreement?
Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Program Policy, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Yes, Chair, we will take that back, as well.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Thank you.
Ms. Benzvy Miller, have you ever informed or implied to IRB staff, verbally or in writing, that their performance will be measured based on the number of cases they complete within a set period of time?
Deputy Chairperson, Refugee Protection Division, Immigration and Refugee Board
As you know, Mr. Chair, the members for the refugee protection division are public servants. The members of the refugee appeal division are GI appointments. Public servants are always measured for performance. There are performance discussions with public servants at the beginning of a year, throughout the year, and at the end of the year—
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Just to be clear, I'm asking, are there quotas or targets for number of cases?
Deputy Chairperson, Refugee Protection Division, Immigration and Refugee Board
There are always performance metrics discussed with public servants around their work.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Can you please table with the committee what the quotas or targets are, either in writing or that you've implied verbally, for any of the IRB staff with regard to case processing?
Deputy Chairperson, Refugee Protection Division, Immigration and Refugee Board
Case processing being finalizations?
Deputy Chairperson, Refugee Protection Division, Immigration and Refugee Board
Finalizations for members of the refugee protection division should be in and around 120 per year.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Okay. Thank you.
When was the decision made to set that quota?
Deputy Chairperson, Refugee Protection Division, Immigration and Refugee Board
These targets are always set at the beginning of the year. We entered into a discussion with the members mid last year to figure out what we would do this year, and it was set as a result of those discussions.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Thank you.
With regard to decisions made by the Immigration Refugee Board under the new expedited process since January 1, 2017, can you please table with the committee how many of the finalized cases were accepted, rejected, and appealed, and can you also break this down by country of origin?