Citizenship and Immigration Committee on Oct. 3rd, 2017

[Shereen Benzvy Miller]

The claimants are responsible for maintaining their files up to date. Like any court procedure, you would always be responsible to that tribunal for your information. These are very official processes with the claimants.

[Larry Maguire, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

You were saying there were 8,000 crossings since September 1, or was it July 1?

[Shereen Benzvy Miller]

That's the number that had been referred to us since July 1, and we don't keep the statistics about the number of people crossing. We only become seized with the matter when the referral has been by CBSA or IRCC. Our data are always about our caseload, not about the number of people who have interfaced with IRCC or CBSA.

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

Thank you, Ms. Miller.

We have just a few minutes left. I'm going to arbitrarily suggest that we split it between Ms. Kwan and Ms. Khalid: two minutes and two minutes.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

With the legal analysis that's been completed, can you confirm that the findings are consistent with what the officials' findings are, and that the United States is a safe country for asylum seekers?

[André Baril]

Yes. Correct.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Okay.

With respect to the ad hoc committee, in terms of the work that's under way, clearly there are huge implications for provinces in a variety of ways. We are processing cases through the IRB with a wait time of 16 months at this moment.

In terms of the provinces trying to manage the situation, first off, the CBSA in my last meeting confirmed that they have provided resources to Montreal to deal with the temporary housing situation. Have additional resources been given to any other provinces—namely Manitoba and B.C.?

[Michael MacDonald]

No. Although when we see spikes like we did in Manitoba earlier in the year, we will reassign staff in order to handle those volumes to our regional offices and/or the port of entry.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

But the community on the ground did not have additional resources. I visited Manitoba, and the NGOs on the ground who had to deal with this situation did not get any additional resources from the federal government to deal with the housing situation.

[Paul MacKinnon]

There was one investment that I do recall. We can get the particulars for the committee. I know that Minister Goodale went to Manitoba back in the winter—

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Perhaps you can table this, because we have limited time.

[Paul MacKinnon]

—and there was an investment given to the local town, I think.

We can get that information for you.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

If we could get a breakdown of all the dollars given to all the different provinces, how much and for what stream, that would be appreciated. In British Columbia, for example, I know that the shelters are full, but they have had no resources, as far as I know. I would like to have that confirmed, if possible.

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

Thank you, Ms. Kwan.

Ms. Khalid.

[Iqra Khalid, Liberal, Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON]

Thank you.

I'm looking for some more points of clarification. When a person makes an entry into the country, CBSA is their first point of contact if they haven't applied for asylum yet. At that point, does the CBSA make the determination on whether they're admissible or inadmissible, and then they're moved on to the next step at which point they are able to apply for asylum? Is that correct?

Perhaps you can explain how it works. I'm trying to understand the relationship between CBSA and IRCC.

[Shereen Benzvy Miller]

CBSA and IRCC are both accountable for eligibility determination to know whether or not they're going to refer a case to the IRB to be considered for refugee determination or if the person is in need of protection. That process is done, under normal circumstances, either at a port of entry or at an inland office. If it's at a port of entry, CBSA officers will do it. If it's at an inland office, IRCC officers will do it.

The claim is made in order to trigger that eligibility interview. Then their determination is whether or not it is a matter that will have to be heard by a tribunal.

[Iqra Khalid, Liberal, Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON]

Okay.

I know that in Canada we don't get the same volume of refugees as other countries in Europe, let's say, or other countries around the world. Are there lessons we can take from other countries in terms of how we deal with our refugees and how we integrate them into the country?

[Michael MacDonald]

The short answer is, yes, we have regular contacts. We belong to multinational, binational, and tri-national organizations. We engage regularly with the Americans, who have a lot of experience on their southern border. We talk with our European colleagues constantly about lessons learned.

Again, we are positioned overseas at IRCC around the world, so that communication is continual.

[The Chair, Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

Thank you very much. That brings our meeting to a close.

Thank you very much, witnesses. You've been very helpful and very thorough.

Thank you, committee, for the quality of your questions.

The meeting is adjourned.