Citizenship and Immigration committee  I think the clearest example here is probably what happens in Australia. In Australia there are quite a lot of irregular arrivals, and in much greater numbers than in Canada because of the structure of the Australian immigration system. There are two primary devices used, even in

Citizenship and Immigration committee  The best and most detailed study is by the Australian Human Rights Commission, which has demonstrated that there are devastating effects on children held long term in migration detention. One of the changes between Bill C-4 and Bill C-31 is that the new legislation does not call

Citizenship and Immigration committee  This is a good example of how information working in one category flows over into another category. We currently have reasonable capacity to pre-screen individuals who are coming to Canada in some acceptable category of immigration. However, we don't grant visas to people to come

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Thank you for your time and attention. It's been a privilege.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Good morning, and thank you for the invitation to speak with you this morning about Bill C-31. I have been doing research into immigration law in Canada and Australia for nearly 20 years now. I teach refugee law in both countries. This morning, I am going to talk about the mand

Citizenship and Immigration committee  There are a number of things that contribute to people abandoning claims. We quite often hear from refugee lawyers in Canada that claims are sometimes abandoned because people receive very poor advice from unscrupulous community members or consultants. There are conditions under

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Our abandonment rates are not as high as 95%. Among citizens of the European Union who actually get before a tribunal, acceptance rates have been running around 20%. That is lower than other groups, but not insignificant. Without actual evidence about why people are making decisi

Citizenship and Immigration committee  It's absolutely true that we need to have a system that makes good and fair decisions promptly. This will address any number of issues, including cost.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Undoubtedly you're working very hard.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  If you're a citizen of a European country, you're allowed to cross the border and enter another country, but there's no provision to get protection in that country. The European accord on the common asylum system prohibits the extension of refugee protection to EU national citize

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I'm not an expert on European health care, but we know it's of a high standard—western world.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  That's not what the legislation says at present.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  That is what the current Immigration and Refugee Protection Act provides, so we have a legislative scheme already actively in place that creates exactly the scheme you've just suggested.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Australia created a system in 2001 in which individuals who arrived on boats were denied family reunification rights and were given only temporary protected status that could later be turned into protected status. It is worth noting that in Australia, somebody who gets protected

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Well, I would certainly be pleased to see the whole bill withdrawn. I can't deny that. I just don't think the mandatory detention provisions in Bill C-31 can be saved. I don't think they can be brought into compliance with the Constitution or with international law, and I think t