Evidence of meeting #23 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 claim.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Chairperson, Immigration and Refugee Board
There's now a front-end security screening on file, so we know that those checks have been done and that the individual has passed the test.
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
Okay.
What determines whether or not there will be an in-person hearing?
Chairperson, Immigration and Refugee Board
It depends how complex the case is.
First of all, if the minister has indicated that they intend to intervene, there will be an in-person hearing.
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
That's right.
In what proportion of cases does that happen, generally speaking, in your opinion?
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
Okay.
What if the minister doesn't plan to intervene?
Chairperson, Immigration and Refugee Board
We will then look at what type of claims they're making. If there are complex legal and factual issues, there will be a hearing. If there are problems in the sense that the documentary evidence is not very well established or is contradictory, or if there are questions about someone's ability to avail themselves of certain protection mechanisms in their country, the case will be referred to a hearing. That's also the case when the claimant lacks proper identification or has no documents to back up their claim beyond the standard general information documents.
So we need a complete file. We do triage. Based on their experience, the member looking at the file may think that something is still missing, and the file can be screened to the regular process, namely the hearing. That's what members do 50% to 60% of the time: They screen to a hearing. A smaller number of files will remain, and when the member is satisfied, they can proceed.
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
I would now ask you to explain to us where the “one-step” system comes in. That was basically the subject of the National Post article that prompted the committee to call you to appear. At what point does that come into play? What I understand is that, if the claimant comes from one of the pre-selected countries, they are automatically exempted from a hearing. Is that correct?
Chairperson, Immigration and Refugee Board
That's a bit of a non-issue. We have to start somewhere. We look at how well founded the claim is. Of course, there are countries for which documentary evidence is clearer, and we'll start with that. However, it also depends on the claim type. Let's take a country like Haiti, for example. Abused women who have suffered persecution—
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
Okay, but I have only 20 seconds left, and I want to make sure I understand.
It says that, in some cases, when claimants come from certain preselected countries with a high acceptance rate, their case is screened to file review without an in-person hearing. Is that true, Ms. Brassard?
Chairperson, Immigration and Refugee Board
That's true, but you have to understand why. When—
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
So how many people were allowed to pass through without an in-person hearing?
Chairperson, Immigration and Refugee Board
It depends what period you're talking about.
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
I'm talking about from 2019 to date.
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
Okay. So, since 2023, there have been 10,000 more.
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
Okay.
Could we have the breakdown by province?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dzerowicz
Thank you, Mr. Deschênes.
Thank you, Madame Brassard. That is time.
We will now go to our five-minute rounds of questions.
We'll start with Mr. Menegakis.
Conservative
Costas Menegakis Conservative Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you to all our witnesses for appearing before us today.
Madame Brassard, I'd like to start with you. What is the name of the alleged IRGC official whose identity the IRB hid, as reported on February 6, 2026?
Chairperson, Immigration and Refugee Board
I'm sorry. Can you say that again?
Conservative
Costas Menegakis Conservative Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON
I would like to know the name of the IRGC official who appeared before you, as was reported by Global News on February 6, 2026.
Conservative
Costas Menegakis Conservative Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON
A Global News report said, “A suspected high-ranking Iranian official caught living in Canada appeared at his deportation hearing on Thursday [of that week]”. The IRB deemed it necessary not to divulge his name. We'd like to know his name.