Citizenship and Immigration Committee on May 3rd, 2018

[Shereen Benzvy Miller]

Just for expedited countries?

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Correct.

[Shereen Benzvy Miller]

I can table that. Sure.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Thank you.

With regard to the decisions made by the short hearing process instituted in March 2017, can you table with the committee how many cases have been decided using this process; how many of the finalized cases were accepted and rejected, broken down by country of origin; and a detailed explanation for the criteria being used to determine when the short hearing process is to be used?

[Shereen Benzvy Miller]

Yes.

Short hearing processes are related to the complexity of the case and whether or not we need to schedule—

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Can you please table that information with committee?

[Shereen Benzvy Miller]

Absolutely.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Thank you.

Who requested that the short hearing process be instituted, the head of the IRB or the Minister of Immigration?

[Shereen Benzvy Miller]

All processes are determined within the IRB. We do not take direction for the process that deals with case decision-making from anybody outside the IRB. It's in the purview of the [Inaudible-Editor].

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

So, to be clear, the minister has not given direction to institute the short hearing process.

[Shereen Benzvy Miller]

Absolutely not.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Has the IRB chair given decision.... Sorry. I've asked this already.

Do you have any plans to add or remove countries from the expedited processing list?

[Shereen Benzvy Miller]

The expedited processing policy is a policy around how we can deal with some cases. We can look at them first as a paper review rather than a full hearing.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

There's a current list of countries that are on that list.

[Shereen Benzvy Miller]

There is a current list of countries.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Do you have any plans to remove any countries from that list?

[Shereen Benzvy Miller]

No, it's not a question of planning. If I could just take a moment to explain what that list is....

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

I only have two minutes. I'll take it—

[Shereen Benzvy Miller]

I understand, but the list—

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

I'll take it at that.

Just with regard to the number of projected illegal border crossers—or sorry, I'll say people who are entering the country, so that you'll actually answer my question—at non-official points of entry, how many are we projecting this year if there aren't changes to the safe third country agreement would be entering Canada through a non-official point of entry and then claiming asylum? I can take the answer from any one of your departments. Do we have a projection?

[Mike MacDonald]

Mr. Chair, it's actually impossible to project because you can't determine what is driving people who are seeking protection, but our operating assumption is the same as last year.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Okay. Thank you.

Mr. MacDonald, you put a great deal of information in your remarks about the ad hoc intergovernmental task force on irregular migration. Can you please table with this committee all meeting minutes, transcripts, and briefing documents for ministers related to the ad hoc intergovernmental task force on irregular migration?

[Mike MacDonald]

Mr. Chair, I'm afraid our department can't. It's under the auspices of the Privy Council Office, that is, the secretariat, so I think it's a question that the Privy Council Office could take on.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Excellent. Would you direct that question to the Privy Council and ask them to table any non-classified materials for this—

[Mike MacDonald]

Our department will, indeed.