Why we are doing it:
To allow genuine refugees to be processed faster so that their lives are not
put in limbo while they wait for decisions crucial to their future.
To provide a fair opportunity to correct errors in law or fact in the first
instance, and to increase the integrity of the decision-making process.
Front-end Security Screening
What it is:
A security check initiated when a person makes a refugee claim.
Why we are doing it:
To catch criminals and people who present security risks at the start of the
process and speed genuine refugees through the system. Currently, a
security screening is carried out only once a person is granted refugee
status by the IRB.
Admissibility Hearing
What it is:
A hearing before an independent adjudicator to decide whether a person is
admissible to Canada.
Why we are doing it:
To make fair but fast decisions on security cases.
Pre-removal Risk Assessment
What we are doing:
Legislating a procedure to fairly assess the risk of return prior to removal.
There will be flexibility for an oral hearing should the complexity of the case
require it.
Repeat claimants, failed refugee claimants, and refugees who have
withdrawn or abandoned their claims will be assessed on the grounds of the
Geneva Convention, the United Nations Convention against Torture, and the
risk of cruel or unusual treatment or punishment.
People found to be inadmissible to Canada for reasons of serious
criminality, security, organized crime or violations of human rights will be
assessed on the grounds of the United Nations Convention against Torture
and the risk of cruel or unusual treatment or punishment.
Why we are doing it:
To ensure that there is a fair and effective procedure for assessing the risk
of return for individuals being removed from Canada.
Strengthening Enforcement
Penalties
What we are doing:
Increasing penalties for existing offences.
Creating a new offence for human trafficking.
Extending Criminal Code counterfeiting provisions (which currently apply
only to passports) to cover any immigration document or travel document
(with an exemption for refugees).
Allowing for the seizure of assets in cases of migrant smuggling and
trafficking.
Providing new authority to seize citizenship documents to prevent fraud.
Creating a new offence for people who counsel a person to misrepresent
himself or herself or to commit an offence under the Act.
Creating a new offence for the possession and laundering of proceeds from