Citizenship and Immigration Canada
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Balanced
Refugee Reform
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.
The changes to the asylum system will come into effect in the next 12 to 18 months. However, changes to the humanitarian and compassionate and temporary resident permit provisions came into effect immediately at Royal Assent.
Latest news on implementing refugee reform
- On August 14, 2010, regulatory changes to the humanitarian and compassionate provision of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations were pre-published in Canada Gazette Part I. Comments on these regulatory changes may be submitted until September 12, 2010.
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:
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 Returns (AVR) 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?
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Top right photo courtesy UNHCR
