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
It's useful when credibility is in question or when we'd like to ask the lawyer to answer some legal questions.
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
It allows us to test their credibility, among other things.
Chairperson, Immigration and Refugee Board
Yes, it makes it possible to put those things to the test.
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
Earlier, you said that, since 2019, 35,000 asylum seekers—
Chairperson, Immigration and Refugee Board
It's 35,000 to 39,000, and 18% of them were in Quebec.
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
Okay. So that's 35,000 asylum seekers since 2019.
When was that number last updated?
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
That was December 2025. So 35,000 asylum seeks didn't have a hearing. Is that correct?
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
Then you say that 18% of them are in Quebec.
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
If a claimant comes from one of the pre-selected countries under your project for which a hearing is not required, is it still possible to refer the case to a hearing if someone sees something?
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
Okay.
Earlier, you also said that 10% to 12% of the 78,000 claims for refugee status were based on questioning, if I'm not mistaken.
Chairperson, Immigration and Refugee Board
That was last year. Those are included in the 35,000 to 39,000 claimants you're talking about.
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
Okay. So 10% to 12% of all claims ultimately went to a hearing.
Chairperson, Immigration and Refugee Board
No, those are the ones that don't go to a hearing.
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
Okay. So 10% to 12% of claimants don't have a hearing.
Chairperson, Immigration and Refugee Board
That's correct.
As for the rest, those are cases that went to a hearing, cases where claimants have been summoned to a hearing, but then their claim has been rejected because they didn't show up for their hearing, or, in a small percentage of cases, people simply abandoned their claim or withdrew it.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dzerowicz
Thank you, Mr. Deschênes.
Thank you, Ms. Brassard.
Next we have five minutes for Ms. Rempel Garner.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Ms. Brassard, the law under section 166 of the IRPA says that proceedings before your division must be public. Is that correct?
Chairperson, Immigration and Refugee Board
Not for the refugee claimants, it isn't.
Conservative
Chairperson, Immigration and Refugee Board
I don't have the act with me, but—