Evidence of meeting #12 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was officers.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Costas Menegakis Conservative Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON
It would have to be, because if not, I can't imagine that someone who's a criminal is going to magically say, 30 days after they get here, “Oh, by the way, I'm a criminal. I should not be here.”
Professor, As an Individual
It has always been the risk of an open asylum system that you can have—
Conservative
Costas Menegakis Conservative Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON
In-person interrogation up front is critically important, as opposed to just a one-touch system or a fast track for expediency purposes, at the risk, of course, of allowing people into the country who shouldn't be here.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dzerowicz
Thank you, Mr. Menegakis. I'm sorry, but that's three and a half minutes.
I'm going to go to Mr. Zuberi for the last three and a half minutes.
Liberal
Sameer Zuberi Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I'll ask Ms. Tamjeedi about vulnerable people.
We heard, from a previous panel, testimony that was given in terms of opening around vulnerable people and how there is uniqueness to them vis-à-vis Bill C-12. Do you want to share your opinions about the uniqueness of vulnerable people and what those categories of vulnerability are?
Senior Legal Officer, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
For individuals who are unable to understand the nature of the processes they're going through—minors or individuals who have suffered extreme trauma—when they're identified as vulnerable at the start of their process, the IRB, the Immigration and Refugee Board, has put in place specific processes that would enable a better adjudication of those cases without retraumatizing those individuals, ensuring that they have a chance to have their story heard. In those types of cases, because of the training of the IRB members, it's good for the IRB to deal with them, given the complexity of those cases. Those cases could be granted an exception under this legislation, if there's an amendment, so that the IRB would handle those cases.
Liberal
Sameer Zuberi Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC
That's interesting. You're suggesting to kick back vulnerable cases to the IRB instead of going...?
Do you want to outline some of the potential vulnerable categories, which are not necessarily exhaustive?
Senior Legal Officer, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
For example, someone who is a minor, not necessarily vulnerable but a minor, could be handled by the IRB. They have processes in place for determining the case of a minor, especially an unaccompanied minor who's not coming with their parents.
For individuals with mental health issues who are unable to understand the nature of the process they're going through and who need a designated representative appointed to help them go through that process, the Immigration and Refugee Board could handle those cases very well.
For individuals who have severe post-traumatic stress disorder due to their past experiences and who have difficulty articulating their case, if those individuals are identified through a proper psychiatric report as being vulnerable, they could be handled by the Immigration and Refugee Board as well.
Liberal
Sameer Zuberi Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC
The change in country situation, does that require, under international pacts and covenants, a new evaluation of the situation? How would that nexus with Bill C-12 work?
Senior Legal Officer, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
If there's a change in country circumstances—for example, if someone has been here on a student visa for five years and then war breaks out in their country—instead of channelling them through the pre-removal risk assessment, you could grant an exception in this legislation and channel them to the IRB to deal with their cases, so they get a chance to appear before the specialized tribunal. We've seen that, for example, in the case of Ukrainians. They may have been here for a couple of years, and then war broke out and they wanted to make an asylum claim. That's the type of exception that we could look at for individuals if there's a change in circumstances.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dzerowicz
Thank you so much.
I want to say a huge thanks to our three witnesses. You provided not only important testimony today, but very thoughtful and excellent recommendations, which will be taken into consideration. Thanks to all three of you. With my last name, you would think I would say everybody's last name perfectly, but I'm as bad as everybody else, so, apologies. I'm going to say thanks to all of you.
Colleagues, I just have two quick things to mention. Our last day for the study is going to be Thursday. We have officials coming back for the first hour. In the second hour, we are going to be looking at the recommendations. We do have approval to extend up to half an hour. We do have translation and everything set up for Thursday.
Just to let everybody know, next Tuesday we are scheduled to go back to the massive immigration study that we have. I just wanted to make sure everybody's on the same track for that.
With that, there's nothing else on our agenda. We are adjourned.