Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
My name is Jacques Cloutier and I’m the Vice-President of the Operations Branch at the Canada Border Services Agency.
As this committee is aware, border security and integrity is a shared mandate between the Canada Border Services Agency and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, as Gilles just described. The CBSA is responsible for enforcing domestic legislation at designated ports, and we work closely with the RCMP, who are responsible for enforcing the law between the ports.
Likewise, preserving the integrity of the immigration system is a shared mandate between the CBSA and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Together, we administer the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, which governs both the admissibility of people into Canada, and the identification, detention and removal of those deemed to be inadmissible under the Act.
Individuals seeking entry into Canada must meet certain admissibility requirements under our legislation. An individual may make an asylum claim at any designated CBSA port of entry, or inland or at an IRCC office, regardless of whether they entered at a designated port or not.
Last year, as you know, asylum claims rose by 110% compared to the previous year, resulting in a surge of refugee claimants across Canada. In response, the agency demonstrated its ability to address the emerging and fluid situation, while still maintaining its ongoing commitment to protect and to serve Canadians.
When a person makes a claim for refugee protection, the CBSA determines the admissibility of the individual and the eligibility of the claim under the act. This process notably includes an interview, the taking of fingerprints and photos, as well as performing security, criminal record, and health checks. No asylum seeker leaves the ports before a risk assessment is completed. In 2017, the agency processed a total of 22,140 asylum claims in Canada, at airports, land borders, and inland offices, which means this rigorous process which I described was repeated over 22,000 times and always done with professionalism.
And while we rose to the occasion last summer, we know that continual review and refinement of our processes and strategies, in collaboration with partners, is key to remaining responsive.
We have created and are now implementing a comprehensive national plan that includes human resources, infrastructure, and operational processing to address any influx of asylum seekers.
The national plan also includes a strategy to ensure that sufficient temporary accommodation is available while asylum seekers are undergoing their eligibility determination.
As the situation across the country differs in each region, the agency acts quickly to deploy resources when and where they are most needed. We work with partners to ensure maximum operational efficiency.
As part of our response, contingency plans include the establishment of a surge capacity workforce that can be redeployed to process influxes across the country. These plans rely on a layered approach that shifts from one phase to the next depending on volumes and port capacity; they are flexible and scalable.
To do this, the agency makes the most effective use of all available options and ensures a steady stream of trained officers is deployed to the regions of highest activity.
For example, between July 2017 and March 2018, just over 800 employees were reallocated temporarily to the Quebec-U.S. land border to assist their colleagues during this surge. Our officers are proud of the role they play in facilitating and protecting Canada's borders and are keen to provide assistance where and when it's required.
Officer mobility will continue to be an effective strategy for maintaining service integrity and safety and will ensure that resources are in place throughout the asylum claimants screening process to minimize risks to the health and safety of Canadians.
Mr. Chair, I will conclude by underscoring the confidence that we have in our border service officers who go above and beyond their responsibilities to ensure the safety of Canadians and the integrity of the border.
I would also like to thank our colleagues from Public Safety, RCMP, IRCC, and IRB for their outstanding professionalism and dedication to ensuring the protection of Canadians through the compassionate treatment of claimants, while respecting our legislation and international obligations.
I'd be happy to answer any questions the committee may have.
Thank you.