the CanadaVisa Team - 04 December, 2012
In an attempt to make the process of asylum provision “faster and fairer”, authorities will be initiating new measures aimed at providing “genuine refugees fleeing persecution…..more protection more quickly,” said Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney, adding that “bogus asylum claimants who abuse our generous system at great expense to taxpayers, will be removed much faster.”
Originally included in the Protecting Canada’s Immigration System Act of 2012, the new system will continue the existing process of granting eligible refugees a hearing at the independent Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB).
However, under the new framework, the average waiting period is expected to be reduced from the present 600 days to 60 days or less. In addition, most applicants will have access to a newly-created Refugee Appeal Division (RAD), which will have the authority to reverse a negative IRB decision in the presence of compelling evidence.
Furthermore, the new system will allow authorities to remove failed asylum claimants from Canada within a year of their final IRB decision. At present, this process takes 4.5 years.
The Protecting Canada’s Immigration System Act of 2012 is expected to save provinces and territories $ 1.6 billion over five years in social assistance and education costs.
