The committee was studying Canada’s immigration system, focusing on asylum claim processing and security protocols. Appearing were Manon Brassard, Chairperson of the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB); Roula Eatrides, Deputy Chairperson of the Refugee Protection Division; Gary Dukeshire, Senior Counsel at the IRB; Brett Bush, Director General of Immigration and Asylum Policy at the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA); and Jason Hollmann, Director General of Asylum Policy at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Manon Brassard explained that the IRB’s file review process, which allows refugee claims to be accepted without a hearing, has existed in various forms since 1993 and is authorized under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. She said it applies only to cases where the minister does not intervene, front-end security screening is completed, and the claim type has an 80% or higher acceptance rate at full hearings, with about 10% to 12% of claims resolved this way in 2025. She argued the process improves efficiency and is not a pull factor for asylum seekers, and she disagreed with claims that it undermines security, noting that the IRB notifies the minister before proceeding and can refer any case to a full hearing if concerns arise.
Roula Eatrides clarified that North Korea has never been part of the less complex claims list, contradicting a 2019 document Mr. Redekopp cited, and said only two North Korean claims exist in the IRB’s inventory. She supported Brassard’s description of the triage process, emphasizing that decisions are based on country conditions and claim types rather than a fixed list.
Gary Dukeshire addressed a question about public hearings, stating that under section 166 of the IRPA, refugee protection division proceedings are held in the absence of the public, and immigration division hearings can also be confidential if they involve a refugee claimant or if a member orders it. He did not directly address the specific case of an alleged Iranian regime official whose identity was withheld.
Brett Bush described the CBSA’s role in security screening, including biometric checks and admissibility assessments at ports of entry, and noted that the one-touch process was developed by officers to manage volumes while focusing on security. He confirmed that CBSA detention capacity has been reduced as provinces withdrew from holding immigration detainees, but he could not provide specific numbers on removals of Iranian regime officials or on releases of detainees before deportation, though he undertook to provide data. He said the admissibility regime is intact but acknowledged challenges in removing individuals to Iran due to flight access.
Jason Hollmann outlined the asylum claim process from intake to referral to the IRB, including identity confirmation, biometric collection, and security screening on all claimants. He explained that IRCC reviews claims for integrity issues and prepares interventions when concerns arise, such as undisclosed identities or contradictions in documentation. He said asylum seekers have a charter right to choose where to live, and while discussions about distribution have occurred, only agreements with Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have resulted in a few hundred relocations.
A procedural debate occurred when Mr. Menegakis gave verbal notice of a motion calling for the committee to report to the House on IRGC officials in Canada, including recommendations to expedite deportations, review the IRPA, and release the name of an alleged regime official. The motion was not voted on during the meeting.
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