Yes, you're correct that the area of focus was something that was created by the previous Government of Canada. It was to provide additional considerations in processing refugees, and it was really a form of prioritizing certain types of cases that Canada would be more interested in looking at. It was never exclusive. In other words, if people were not members of an area of focus, it did not mean they would not be processed, but it was just really a means of some guidance to the UNHCR in terms of what sorts of cases would be referred.
On July 18th, 2016. See this statement in context.