Refugees
Balanced
Refugee Reform
The Government has proposed new legislation, the Protecting Canada's Immigration System Act, to further improve the refugee system.
Moving ahead with refugee reform
Bill C-11, the Balanced Refugee Reform Act has received Royal Assent. These reforms will improve Canada’s asylum system, resettle more refugees from abroad and make it easier for refugees to start their lives in this country.
Note: Citizenship and Immigration Canada is reminding all applicants that keeping their applications up-to-date is the responsibility of the applicant. Whether the application is for temporary or permanent status, if your circumstances change and this may affect your application then you need to inform CIC of the change so that decision-makers have all of the information that you wish to be considered before them as they decide upon your application.
Latest news on implementing refugee reform
- On June 30, 2011, proposed regulatory changes regarding: the repeal of the requirement for protected persons to apply for permanent residence within 180 days of acceptance of their refugee claim; the one-year bar on accessing a pre-removal risk assessment; and other technical amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act were pre-published in Canada Gazette Part I.
- Effective April 1, 2011, applications for pre-removal risk assessments (PRRA) and humanitarian and compassionate (H&C) consideration have been transferred to a new office in Vancouver.
- On March 18, 2011, proposed regulatory changes regarding processing time lines and designated countries of origin were pre-published in Canada Gazette Part I.
- January 27, 2011 – Backlog reduction plan for pre-removal risk assessment applications and applications for permanent residence based on humanitarian and compassionate considerations.
- On November 4, 2010, regulatory changes to the humanitarian and compassionate provisions of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations came into effect. Canada Gazette Part II
Canada’s new asylum system
Under these reforms, all eligible asylum claimants will continue to receive a fair hearing based on their personal situation and will have avenues for appeal.
The new measures include:
- changes at the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB)
- adding a Refugee Appeal Division at the IRB
- authority to designate countries of origin
- identifying manifestly unfounded claims
- timely removals of failed asylum claimants
- limits on pre-removal risk assessments
- changes to the humanitarian and compassionate and temporary resident permit provisions
- introduction of an Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) pilot program
- enhancing Canada’s resettlement program
Frequently asked questions
- What happens to people who have asylum claims in the system now that Bill C-11, the Balanced Refugee Reform Act has received Royal Assent?
- Why are these changes necessary?
- Will these changes limit access to the asylum system?
Related Links
Top right photo courtesy UNHCR
