Parliamentary Committee Notes: Minister Anandasangaree's Appearance Before the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (SECU)
Canada's Ability to Remove Foreign Nationals with a Criminal Record

Overview Note

General Information

• Date: April 30, 2026
• Time: 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• Location: To be determined

Context

You will be appearing along with the Minister of Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRC) before the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (SECU) for one hour as part of the Committee's study on Canada's Ability to Remove Foreign Nationals with a Criminal Record. In addition to any officials supporting the Minster of IRC, the following senior officials from the portfolio will be joining you at the table:

• Tricia Geddes, Deputy Minister, Public Safety Canada
• Erin O'Gorman, President, Canada Border Services Agency
• Aaron McCrorie, Vice President, Intelligence and Enforcement Branch, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)

The Committee heard from senior CBSA officials on December 2, 2025, early in the study, regarding the removals process under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the removals inventory, and the Agency's risk-based prioritization framework, which focuses on serious criminality, organized crime, national security, and crimes against humanity.

SECU members from the opposition parties continue to question the effectiveness of current enforcement measures, including whether legislative changes are needed to address lengthy delays in cases of criminal inadmissibility, and what actions are being taken to improve removal outcomes in serious cases.

Sequence of the meeting

At the beginning of the meeting, you will be invited to deliver approximately five minutes of opening remarks.

Motion Establishing the Study

That, given reports that 1,635 foreign nationals with criminal records are facing deportation, of which 600 have failed to attend their deportation proceedings and their whereabouts are unknown, 431 have been found guilty of serious crimes, and 361 have been avoiding deportation for more than two years, the committee undertake a study, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), into Canada's ability to deport foreign nationals with criminal records with a view of recommending measures to prevent these criminals from entering Canada in the first place, and to identify more effective ways of ensuring such criminals are deported.

Speaking Notes for the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree
Minister of Public Safety

Thank you for the opportunity to join you today.

I'd like to start by acknowledging that we are meeting on the traditional and unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishnaabeg People.

Protecting Canadians' safety and maintaining the integrity of our immigration system are top priorities for our Government.

Central to this is ensuring our borders remain secure, and that immigration and border policies are applied fairly, transparently, and in compliance with Canadian laws and international obligations.

Our government is committed to ensuring that people who no longer meet the requirements to remain here, including those posing threats to public safety or national security, are removed in accordance with the law and supporting processes.

I'd like to take a moment to discuss the role of the Minister of Public Safety on this matter.

The Minister is responsible for the administration of immigration enforcement provisions under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. These include the power to examine individuals entering Canada as well as the power to investigate, arrest, detain and remove inadmissible foreign nationals and permanent residents from the country.

Finally, the Minister also has the responsibility to shape national security, transborder criminality and organized criminality policies and provisions and the non-delegable power to grant relief from their effect.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) prioritizes the removal of individuals who pose a risk to public safety. In 2025, the Agency achieved a significant milestone removing over 22,500 inadmissible persons — a record for a single year. Nearly 1,200 of these were removed due to serious concerns related to criminality, national security, human rights abuses, and organized crime.

Over the past five years, removals on serious grounds have nearly doubled, reflecting the CBSA's commitment and work to mitigating public safety threats.

The Agency is actively combatting criminal activities, such as extortion, by collaborating with law enforcement to remove individuals who are involved in these activities that terrorizing our communities. These efforts have had an impact in areas such as the British Colombia Lower Mainland, Edmonton, Winnipeg, and the Greater Toronto Area, where communities have welcomed the disruption of such networks.

Cases involving individuals who pose a risk public safety are referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, which decides whether to issue removal orders.

A removal order does not automatically result in immediate action.

One significant barrier is the lack of cooperation from certain foreign governments, which delay issuing necessary travel documents. This impacts the efficiency of removals, especially for those cases subject to enforceable orders. We are working with those countries and some of these efforts are bearing fruit.

Public understanding is also key. While not every removal is tied to an immediate threat, those that pose a danger to Canadians can be arrested and detained under immigration legislation.

The Agency relies on close collaboration both domestically and internationally to achieve its goals. Public tips submitted through the CBSA's Border Watch Line remain a vital tool for identifying threats, reinforcing community engagement, and improving case outcomes.

Investments under the Border Plan have also allowed the CBSA to expand its resources. The Agency has hired additional Enforcement Case Officers to support removals and reduce backlogs. The CBSA is also hiring 1,000 new officers, to strengthen front-line operations, including inland investigations and removals.

All players in the public safety portfolio – and in fact, across government – take their mandate to protect Canadians extremely seriously. The Agency's successes reflect the power of collaboration.

In closing, I want to acknowledge the dedication of CBSA staff and their federal partners. The Agency's work, supported by law enforcement and international collaboration, is vital to protecting Canadians and maintaining a fair, transparent immigration system.

Again, thank you for this opportunity to appear before you today. I welcome your questions.

Key messages

Strengthening removals processes

We are taking decisive action to remove those who have no right to be here.

• Canada Border Services Agency removed over 22,500 inadmissible persons, the highest ever in the history of the Agency, thanks to $55.5 million in additional funding under the Border Plan.
• Removing approx. 440 inadmissible persons each week, including those involved in extortion.
• Over 550 CBSA personnel are focussed on immigration investigations and removals. CBSA also has a tip line – the Border Watch Line – for the public to report violation of immigration law.

We are prioritizing serious inadmissibility and are focussed on managing the wanted inventory.

• While the Removal-in-Progress inventory grew by 50% (19,000 to 29,000) from 2021 to 2026 (reflecting the surge in asylum claims) the wanted inventory only grew by 7% (31,000 to 33,000).
• As of March 20, 2026, approx. 29,700 individuals are in the removal in progress inventory to be processed for removal.

Removing foreign nationals with a criminal record

We are taking a public-safety-first approach to removals.

• Approximately 500 foreign nationals with immigration warrants are currently serving sentences in correctional facilities, so there whereabouts are known.
  
• They will be transferred into CBSA custody upon completion of their criminal detention for removal.
• In 2025, CBSA removed approx. 1,180 individuals with serious inadmissibilities – which includes criminals, national security risks and those guilty of war crimes.

Advancing CBSA recruitment

Increased recruitment is strengthening CBSA's operational capacity.

• Budget 2025 allocated $669 million over five years and $198.3 million ongoing to bolster CBSA operations.
• With this investment, and funding under the Border Plan, the CBSA will hire 1,000 new officers.

These investments are translating into immediate gains, with new recruits already joining the organization.

• 28 Border Services Officers recruits graduated in February 2026 and 14 graduated in April 2026.
  
• As of April 2, 2026, 68 new CBSA officers were hired, of the 1,000. This includes 42 Border Services Officers (including 3 fentanyl dogs), 20 Trade Officers, 4 Chemists and 2 Detection Technology Engineers.
  
• 100 border services officers will be hired and 180 will be in training at the college in Rigaud by June 2026.
• 500 new officers are expected to be in place by the end of this fiscal year. CBSA is on track to reach the 1,000 new officers target by the end of fiscal year 2028-2029.

Removals

Committee Notes

Q1 – How many foreign nationals convicted of serious crimes are missing and unaccounted for? What are you doing to address this as quickly as possible

• 33,000 individuals are in the wanted inventory that failed to appear for removal proceedings.
• These include cases under review to determine if a warrant is required or cases where a warrant has been issued for the arrest, detention, and removal of foreign nationals.
• 624 (2%) individuals have been convicted of serious crimes in Canada.
• These individuals failed to appear for a scheduled proceeding but may have already left Canada on their own. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) regularly reviews the wanted inventory and where individuals are confirmed to have left Canada on their own, the removal order is administratively enforced.
• The CBSA undertakes a 100% review of all immigration warrants in an attempt to generate new leads and locate wanted individuals. Priority warrants (security, criminality, organized crime and international human rights violation cases) are reviewed at least once a year while non-priority warrants are reviewed at least once every three years. In addition, CBSA officers undertake proactive investigations in order to locate and arrest an individual subject to an immigration warrant.

Q2 – A few months ago, CBSA told this committee that 32,000 individuals facing removal could not be located and were subject to warrants. How many of those cases have been resolved, and how many individuals remain at large today

• 2000 cases resolved since January 2025
• Cases are resolved on an ongoing basis as individuals are located, removed or confirmed to have left Canada
• 33,000 individuals in the wanted inventory as of March 2026
  • This inventory is not static and fluctuates as cases are resolved but remains relatively stable.
• Wanted inventory increased by 7% (from 31,376 to 33,511) over the last five years (February 2021 to February 2026)
• Removal in Progress Inventory grew by 50% (from 19,000 to 29,000) over the last five years.
• 79% increase in annual removals conducted over the last five years.
• Non-compliance represents a relatively small and stable component of overall system pressure, and is to be expected when enforcement efforts are increased.

Q3 – Recent reports indicated that nearly 600 foreign nationals with in-Canada criminal convictions and subject to removal orders are currently unaccounted for, with some evading enforcement for years. How does the government explain this, and what concrete measures are being taken to ensure removal orders are carried out effectively, transparently, and in a manner that safeguards public safety

• About 600 individuals were identified in the summer of 2025 as subject to removal warrants
• CBSA continues to look for those subject to warrants and wanted individuals are located and removed every day.
• Of these, around 50 are currently serving a criminal sentence
• The CBSA has issued a warrant to ensure they are transferred into CBSA custody upon completion of their criminal detention.
• Around 100 warrants have been closed and 30 have been removed.
• These individuals were located, arrested and are back in the removal process.
• Around 50% of the 600 individuals in this group were involved in non-violent, more minor offenses.
• While the CBSA prioritizes high risk cases involving criminality, a significant portion of the 599 identified in Summer 2025 are non-violent cases.
• Approx. 550 CBSA personnel are dedicated to immigration investigations and removals.
• They are focused on carrying out immigration investigations, locating wanted individuals and effecting their removal from Canada.
• 22,500 inadmissible individuals, including 1,182 with serious inadmissibility.
• The total number of enforced removals represents a historic high for the CBSA.
• Approx. 440 individuals removed weekly.
• Individuals move in and out of the removals inventory daily

Q4 – How did CBSA allow a backlog in removals to develop? Was there ever a period when removals were carried out without delay

• The CBSA is mandated to remove as soon as possible any foreign nationals that is inadmissible to Canada and subject to an enforceable removal order.
• The Removal in Progress inventory has grown by 51% over the last five years, driven by a higher number of asylum claims and longer processing times for refugees.
• The CBSA allocates its available resources based on risk, including by prioritizing the removal of foreign criminals from Canada.
• There has also been an increase in the proportion of complex cases (serious criminality, identity issues, litigation, non-cooperation and additional disclosure burdens).

Q5 – The government claims that adding 1,000 officers will address the removals backlog. How will these officers be deployed in practice, and what measurable impact will they have on speeding up removals

• 1000 additional CBSA officers will be deployed.
• Resources will be allocated based on risk, operational needs, and volumes, including inland enforcement and removals.
• Around 400 additional removals expected in 2026-27
• Increased capacity is expected to improve throughput, while maintaining a risk-based approach to enforcement.

Q6 – What is the current number of foreign nationals incarcerated in federal penitentiaries who will be subject to removal upon sentence completion

• 459 foreign nationals currently incarcerated in federal penitentiaries will be subject to removal at the end of their sentence.
• 110 foreign nationals currently in the community under supervision will be subject to removal at the end of their sentence.

Q7 – Is there active and effective communication between Correctional Service Canada (CSC) and CBSA regarding these foreign nationals prior to sentence completion? What prevents CBSA from executing removals the moment those sentences end

• When an offender self-identifies that they were born outside of Canada, CSC will contact the CBSA. If there is interest in the file, CSC will then send the required information to the CBSA and maintain contact with them throughout the offender's sentence.
• This includes sharing information on upcoming releases, transfers to different sites or regions, or anything else as required.
• If a detainer is issued by the CBSA, any point of release (unescorted temporary absences, day parole, full parole, statutory release, warrant expiry) will cause a transfer of jurisdiction from the CSC to the CBSA.
• During that window of release, if CBSA has a removal order, they are to deport the offender. If CBSA lifts the deportation order, then the offender will continue with their conditional release, under the supervision of CSC.
• Anytime CBSA reinstates the removal order, they can remove the offender at that time.

Q8 – In 2023, the government shut down CBSA's "Wanted" webpage, removing a public tool for identifying and locating high-risk individuals. Why was this tool eliminated, and will you commit to reinstating it

• 159 profiles of wanted individuals were featured on the "wanted by CBSA" website from 2011 to 2018.
• The tool generated limited results with the last tip received in 2014.
• 15 individuals (less than 10%) were removed as a result of tips from the webpage.
• Low effectiveness resulted in the webpage being phased out.
• The CBSA has shifted to promoting the Border Watch Line and a secure online reporting form as more effective tools.

Q9 – Throughout this study, we heard about effective approaches used by other countries. Why has Canada not integrated these lessons, and what concrete improvements have been adopted from international counterparts

• The CBSA is always collaborating with international partners (e.g. Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and other European countries) to co-ordinate efforts and share best practices.
• Many of them face the same challenges as Canada, for example securing travel documents and are working together to push countries recalcitrant on removal to issue travel documents.
• Many European countries have adopted incentivized removal programs to manage migrations, with countries like Sweden offering substantial payments for voluntary return.
• Successful practices in one country do not always translate to success in another.
• A pilot program was launched by the CBSA for voluntary departures from 2012 to 2015 but have not proven effective in the Canadian context.
• Current efforts focus on encouraging voluntary compliance through proactive communication and engagement with non-governmental organizations and community intermediaries.

Q10 – International non-cooperation is often cited as a barrier to removals. Why are countries allowed to obstruct Canada's immigration enforcement, and what measures—diplomatic, economic, or otherwise—are being used to force compliance

• Removals require travel documents issued by countries of citizenship and non-cooperation can create delays.
• The lack of diplomatic ties with a country or regime further prevents the CBSA from engaging with the necessary authorities responsible for issuing travel documents.
• Since 2019, a whole of government approach has been used to raise the need for cooperation on removals with foreign partners. This resulted in improved cooperation for some countries.
• For example, India has more than doubled its issuance of travel documents since September 2025, driven by sustained high-level engagements.
• While the CBSA has seen a significant improvement in the number of travel documents issued by the Government of India, the same cannot be said of Bangladesh and Ethiopia
• Both countries remain recalcitrant on removals.
• The CBSA works with Global Affairs Canada and international partners, including through the Migration Five (M5) or Border Five (B5) networks to find solutions to the challenges posed by recalcitrant counties.

Q11 – It has been acknowledged that the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act's design permits some foreign nationals with criminal records to remain in Canada during prolonged assessments. Why has the government tolerated the exploitation of these legal loopholes, and what concrete steps are being taken to fix a system that appears to prioritize delay over removal

• Criminal matters take precedence over immigration matters and removals cannot occur until charges are resolved and sentences served.
• Removal processes are initiated in parallel where possible but enforcement depends on the exhaustion of all legal avenues including judicial review.
• Protected persons cannot be removed where they face a risk to life or security unless a high threshold is met through a Danger Opinion assessment conducted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
• Decisions involve balancing risk to the individual returning to their destination country against the danger they pose in Canada, require procedural fairness and are subject to review by the Federal Court.

Q12 – Bill C-12 is being presented as the solution to these longstanding problems. Which provisions will concretely change outcomes, and how will they prevent the continued delays and non-removals we see today

• Two new eligibility requirements are now in effect and apply to all claims made on or after June 3, 2025.
• Claims made more than one year after someone's first entry into Canada after June 24, 2020 will not be referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB).
• Asylum claims from people who enter Canada between ports of entry along the Canada–US land border and who make a claim after 14 days won't be referred to the IRB.
• These new measures are intended to reduce pressure on the asylum system, close loopholes, and deter misuse.
• CBSA received $57.5M over three years from 2026-2027 to 2028-2029 to implement the two new ineligibilities, including funding for security screening, immigration investigation, and removals to complete 30,000 pre-removal risk assessment initiations and 4,031 removals over the next three fiscal years.

Canada Border Services Agency Stats and Facts

Facts and Figures

• 2025-26 Budget 2,993M
• 17,000 employees
• 8,500 front line
• 1,200 Points of entry (POE)/ 36 countries
• 117 land-border, 61 are 24/7
• 13 airports, 10 are 24/7
• 27 rail sites
• 3 Ports Hali, Montréal, Van

1000 Officers

• By June, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will have hired approx. 100 officers and will have 180 in training at the college in Rigaud
• 42 border services officers recruits have graduated so far, including 3 fent dogs on April 2
• 20 hired to support trade compliance
• 6 hired in science & technology
• Av. annual attrition (5 years) 364
• College throughput 720

FES Time-limited/not part of 1000

• Removals backlog: 30
• Trade/steel: 14

Border Plan

• Large Scale Imaging
• Fiscal year (FY) 25/26: 6
• FY26/27: 8
• FY27/28: 5
• Dog teams: 6

Removals

• 2025 over 22,000
• 2024 over 17,000

Inventories (as of February, 2026)

• Removal not possible: about 27k
• Cannot remove to country: about 11,000
• Wanted: about 33k
• Removal in progress: about 29k

Examples of inadmissibility types

• Security grounds
• Human/International rights violation
• Criminality
• Organized crime
• Misrepresentation
• Non-compliance

Extortion

• Over 370 open investigations
• 35 removed

Iranian Regime Members

• Nov 2022 designated Iran regime from Nov 15, 2019 onwards
• Sept 2024 amended start date of designation to June 23, 2003.
• Since then:
  • 174 CBSA investigations opened
  • 32 reported inadmissible
  • 23 sent to Immigration Review Board
  • 3 deportation orders
  • 1 removed

Security Screening

• Inventory is about 185 000 (increase compared to 3yrs ago)
• average processing time from 61 to 291 days over last 3 years

Recent Administrative Deferral of Removals (ADR)

• United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bharain, Qatar, Lebanon, Israel

Enforcement in 2025

• 82.3 million Travellers
• 30.7 million releasees of goods
• 149 million courier shipments
• Commercial by the numbers:
  • Highway: 5 million trucks
  • Air: 3.8 million shipments
  • Marine: 2 million containers
  • Rail: 1.8 million cars

Over 52K seizures including over:

• 830 firearms/17 000 weapons
• 90 child porn seizures
• 31k illegal drugs seizures:
  • Cocaine: 4.7 thousand kilos
  • Heroin: 128 kilos
  • Fentanyl: 2.8 thousand kilos
  • Meth: 2.3 thousand kilos
  • Other opioids: 1 thousand kilos
  • Other drugs, narcotics and chemicals: 28 thousand kilos
  • Cannabis: 46.6 thousand kilos
  • Tobacco: 803 thousand kilos
• Recent large seizure: $1.7 million of cocaine at Pearson

Stolen Vehicles

• 2024: 2,277
• 2025: 1,590

Recent collab w/ Peel Police

• Project Stratis $800 thousand of vehicles

Currency Seizures

• 2025: over 38 million
• Suspected Proceeds of crime 3.8 million
• 2024: over 33 million
• Suspected Proceeds of crime 5.4 million

Asylum Claims

Committee Notes

Q1 – What does the Canada Border Services Agency assess when a claimant arrives to makes a claim

• The CBSA assesses identity, admissibility and eligibility of the asylum claimant.
• Officers verify identity, review biometrics and criminality checks and conduct an in-person interview.
• Officers must be satisfied the individual is not inadmissible on grounds such as national security, serious or organized criminality and human or international rights violations.
• Officers also determine whether the claim is eligible for referral to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB).
• The CBSA does not assess the merits of the claimant's fear of persecution.

Q2 – Why does the CBSA not assess the credibility of asylum claimants

• The IRB is solely responsible for determining the merits of asylum claims, including credibility.
  
• This separation of roles is established in legislation.

Q3 – Does the CBSA do any other security checks asylum claimants

• The CBSA is responsible for security screening asylum claimants.
• A comprehensive security screening is conducted for all adult claimants, in partnership with intelligence partners.
• Screening assesses inadmissibility on grounds such as national security, human or international rights violations and serious or organized criminality.

Q4 – What if credibility concerns are identified

• Credibility of a claim is assessed exclusively by the IRB.
• When credibility concerns are identified before a hearing, the case is referred to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), who is responsible for credibility interventions.
• If there are credibility concerns identified, in addition to public safety or security concerns, the CBSA will include such concerns and intervene in the refugee claim.

Q5 – What happens if CBSA identifies security or integrity concerns in an asylum claim

• The CBSA is responsible for intervening on public safety and security concerns, as well as for admissibility hearings before the Immigration Division.
• When security or admissibility concerns are identified, evidence is assessed to determine whether to proceed with an admissibility hearing before the Immigration Division or to intervene at the Refugee Protection Division.
• If an admissibility hearing is held, the asylum claim is suspended until a decision on the inadmissibility allegation is made.
• In both instances, CBSA presents the evidence, questions witnesses, and makes submissions on inadmissibility from refugee protection.

Q6 – What is triage and what happens if security, admissibility, or integrity concerns are identified in cases accepted through triage

• Triage is the review of a claimant's file to identify any factors in a claim requiring follow-up, review, or intervention.
• Files are reviewed for a variety of triggers, including identity, admissibility, eligibility, exclusion, credibility, and program integrity.
• The CBSA and IRCC collaborate on triaging claims.
• If it is discovered that an asylum claimant provided false information to the IRB to obtain refugee status in Canada (i.e., material misrepresentation), the CBSA may apply to the IRB to revoke refugee protection.
• If refugee protection is vacated, the CBSA issues a removal order and starts the removal process.

Q7 – Will Bill C-12 change this process

• Bill C-12 introduces changes to improve and modernize the asylum system.
• One of the improvements is the introduction of Minister's Due Diligence which provides the CBSA and IRCC the opportunity to conduct screening, triage, review, and intervention activities before a claim is referred to the IRB.
  
• Departmental roles remain unchanged but the timing of statutory responsibilities is clarified to ensure claims are schedule-ready once referred to the IRB.
• Where public safety or security concerns are identified, cases are referred to the CBSA to assess whether intervention is warranted.

Q8 – What is OneTouch and what did it change

• The One Touch Refugee Processing Model was implemented nationally April 2024. It is used by CBSA officers to process low-risk refugee claims.
• All refugee claimants undergo a mandatory initial assessment, which includes an in-person examination and risk assessment to determine the appropriate processing method to continue with (One Touch, full case processing, ineligible case processing). This assessment involves the collection and review of mandatory screening information, including screening questions, biometrics, criminality checks, and an officer interview.
• By introducing One Touch, the agency was able to expedite the processing of low-risk claims in order to focus time and resources on high-risk claims through full case processing. Prior to the implementation of One Touch, all cases were completed through full case processing. This included the administrative collection of certain background information from the claimant, such as address and education history.
• With the implementation of One Touch, low-risk claimants are now responsible for completing the administrative portion of their claim within 45 days using the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Portal. However, any claims identified as high-risk or high needs are processed using the traditional full case processing model.
• The CBSA's role in the refugee process is to assess identity, admissibility, and eligibility. Any concerns related to the credibility or reliability of documents or statements are documented by the interviewing officer, added to the claimant's file, and flagged for possible intervention.
• If new information comes to light during processing, the officer can redetermine the eligibility to be referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) or flag it for possible intervention to the IRB for credibility. However, the assessment of the merits of the refugee claim—including credibility determinations—falls under the responsibility of the IRB.

Background on the C.D Report on the IRB's File Review Policy

• On January 29, the C.D. Howe Institute published a report titled Accepting Asylum Claims Without a Hearing: A Critique of IRB's "File Review" Policy. It was authored by James Yousif, a lawyer who is a former Director of Policy at IRCC and former member of the IRB.
• The report argues that the IRB's file review policy allowing asylum claims to be accepted without an oral hearing undermines core safeguards of Canada's asylum system.
• It states the policy has not reduced backlogs and raises significant legal, security, and system-integrity concerns and recommends ending the practice and restoring oral hearings as the standard for adjudicating asylum claims.
• Mr. Yousif appeared as a witness before the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM) on February 23, as part of the committee's study on Canada's Immigration System.
• Following his testimony, CIMM examined the issue further:
  • The IRB Chairperson addressed the file review process directly.
  • IRCC and CBSA officials spoke to broader system processes.
  • The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration was questioned on file review during her appearance at CIMM for their study on immigration levels.
• At the March 25 CIMM meeting, debate on a Conservative motion referencing IRB's File Review Process led to the meeting being suspended. No vote or decision was taken prior to suspension as debate on the motion was not completed.
• Conservative members have called for the IRB's file review process to be discontinued and for oral hearing be reinstated as the standard approach to asylum adjudication, citing system integrity and security concerns.
• The issue has received recent media attention, including two articles published by The Globe and Mail echoing similar concerns raised in the C.D. Howe Institute report.