The House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration met to study the subject matter of Bill C-12, an act respecting certain measures relating to the security of Canada's borders and the integrity of the Canadian immigration system. Appearing were Jason Hollmann, Director General of Asylum Policy at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC); Tara Lang, Director General of Integrity Policy and Programs at IRCC; Aaron McCrorie, Vice-President of Intelligence and Enforcement at the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA); and Karen Hamilton, Senior Counsel at IRCC Legal Services, Department of Justice.
Jason Hollmann explained that Bill C-12 introduces new ineligibility provisions for asylum claims made more than one year after first entry into Canada or 14 days or more after an irregular border crossing, aiming to deter misuse and manage system pressures. He emphasized that those found ineligible can access a pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA), which he described as a robust process using the same protection grounds as the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB), with oral hearings for credibility issues. He noted that the bill also includes new authorities for the Governor in Council to cancel or suspend immigration documents in the public interest, but stressed these are not intended for routine use and would require a separate cabinet process.
Tara Lang defended the need for flexible Governor in Council powers to cancel or suspend immigration documents en masse, arguing that legislation takes too long to pass in emergencies like pandemics, natural disasters, or cybersecurity attacks. She provided examples such as pausing applications from a specific country due to espionage threats or extending work permits after a wildfire, and stated there are no active plans to use these powers. She disagreed with Conservative members who argued the powers are too broad and lack parliamentary oversight, asserting that the order in council process includes checks and balances and transparency through publication in the Gazette.
Aaron McCrorie clarified that the CBSA's one-touch system for asylum claimants involves a face-to-face risk assessment by a border services officer, collection of biometrics, and database checks, not a self-declaration app as suggested by the union president. He explained that low-risk claimants complete administrative steps inland, while high-risk ones undergo full processing at the port of entry, and that all claimants later receive an in-depth security review. He disagreed with the union's request for CBSA officers to patrol between ports of entry, stating that the RCMP handles that role and that resources are best used at ports of entry.
Karen Hamilton noted that while new amendments often bring court challenges, the PRRA process already allows for judicial review, similar to the IRB process, and she could not speak to the relative volumes of such challenges. She did not directly address whether the department has resources to handle potential backlogs from legal challenges.
The committee did not engage in procedural debate, motions, or votes during this meeting.
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