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Balanced Refugee Reform Act (S.C. 2010, c. 8)

Full Document:  

Assented to 2010-06-29

2001, c. 27IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE PROTECTION ACT

16. Paragraphs 113(a) and (b) of the Act are replaced by the following:

  • (a) an applicant whose claim for refugee protection or whose most recent application for protection, as the case may be, has been rejected may present only evidence that arose after the rejection or was not reasonably available, or that the applicant could not reasonably have been expected in the circumstances to have presented, at the time of the rejection;

  • (b) in the case of an applicant described in subsection 112(3), a hearing may be held if the Minister, on the basis of prescribed factors, is of the opinion that a hearing is required;

  • (b.1) subject to paragraphs (a) and (b.3), in the case of an applicant not described in subsection 112(3), the Refugee Protection Division must proceed without a hearing and may accept documentary evidence and written submissions from the Minister and the applicant;

  • (b.2) in the case of an applicant not described in subsection 112(3), paragraph (a) does not apply in respect of evidence that is presented in response to evidence presented by the Minister;

  • (b.3) in the case of an applicant not described in subsection 112(3), the Refugee Protection Division may hold a hearing if, in its opinion, there is documentary evidence referred to in paragraph (b.1)

    • (i) that raises a serious issue with respect to the credibility of the applicant,

    • (ii) that is central to the decision with respect to the application, and

    • (iii) that, if accepted, would justify allowing the application;

16.1 The Act is amended by adding the following after section 114:

Marginal note:Limitation

  • 114.1 (1) Subsections 114(3) and (4) apply in respect of a decision to allow an application for protection only if the application was made to the Minister under subsection 112(1.1) or transferred to the Minister under subsection 112(1.3) or (1.7).

  • Marginal note:Application of section 109

    (2) Section 109 applies to a decision made by the Refugee Protection Division to allow an application for protection as if it were a decision to allow a claim for refugee protection.

17. The Act is amended by adding the following after section 152:

Marginal note:Oath or affirmation of office

152.1 The Chairperson and other members of the Board must swear the oath or give the solemn affirmation of office set out in the rules of the Board.

  • 18. (1) The portion of subsection 153(1) of the Act before paragraph (a) is replaced by the following:

    Marginal note:Chairperson and other members

    • 153. (1) The Chairperson and members of the Refugee Appeal Division and Immigration Appeal Division

  • (2) Paragraph 153(1)(b) of the Act is repealed.

  • 19. (1) Paragraphs 159(1)(b) to (d) of the Act are replaced by the following:

    • (b) may at any time assign a member appointed under paragraph 153(1)(a) to the Refugee Appeal Division or the Immigration Appeal Division;

    • (c) may at any time, despite paragraph 153(1)(a), assign a member of the Refugee Appeal Division or the Immigration Appeal Division to work in another regional or district office to satisfy operational requirements, but an assignment may not exceed 120 days without the approval of the Governor in Council;

    • (d) may designate, from among the full-time members appointed under paragraph 153(1)(a), coordinating members for the Refugee Appeal Division or the Immigration Appeal Division;

  • (2) Paragraph 159(1)(h) of the Act is replaced by the following:

    • (h) may issue guidelines in writing to members of the Board and identify decisions of the Board as jurisprudential guides, after consulting with the Deputy Chairpersons, to assist members in carrying out their duties; and

  • (3) Subsection 159(2) of the Act is replaced by the following:

    • Marginal note:Delegation

      (2) The Chairperson may delegate any of his or her powers under this Act to a member of the Board, except that

      • (a) powers referred to in subsection 161(1) may not be delegated;

      • (b) powers referred to in paragraphs (1)(a) and (i) may be delegated to the Executive Director of the Board;

      • (c) powers in relation to the Immigration Appeal Division and the Refugee Appeal Division may only be delegated to the Deputy Chairperson, the Assistant Deputy Chairpersons, or other members, including coordinating members, of either of those Divisions; and

      • (d) powers in relation to the Immigration Division or the Refugee Protection Division may only be delegated to the Deputy Chairperson, the Assistant Deputy Chairpersons or other members, including coordinating members, of that Division.

20. The portion of subsection 161(1) of the Act before paragraph (b) is replaced by the following:

Marginal note:Rules

  • 161. (1) Subject to the approval of the Governor in Council, and in consultation with the Deputy Chairpersons, the Chairperson may make rules respecting

    • (a) the referral of a claim for refugee protection to the Refugee Protection Division and the conduct of the interview referred to in subsection 100(4);

    • (a.1) the factors to be taken into account in fixing or changing the date of an interview referred to in subsection 100(4);

    • (a.2) the activities, practice and procedure of each of the Divisions of the Board, including the periods for appeal, other than in respect of appeals of decisions of the Refugee Protection Division, the priority to be given to proceedings, the notice that is required and the period in which notice must be given;

21. Section 163 of the Act is replaced by the following:

Marginal note:Composition of panels

163. Matters before a Division must be conducted before a single member unless, with respect to a matter before the Refugee Appeal Division or the Immigration Appeal Division, the Chairperson is of the opinion that a panel of three members should be constituted.

22. Section 165 of the Act is replaced by the following:

Marginal note:Powers of a commissioner

165. The Refugee Protection Division, the Refugee Appeal Division and the Immigration Division and each member of those Divisions have the powers and authority of a commissioner appointed under Part I of the Inquiries Act and may do any other thing they consider necessary to provide a full and proper hearing.

23. Subsection 167(1) of the Act is replaced by the following:

Marginal note:Right to counsel

  • 167. (1) A person who is the subject of proceedings before any Division of the Board, including the interview referred to in subsection 100(4), and the Minister may, at their own expense, be represented by legal or other counsel.

24. Subsection 168(1) of the Act is replaced by the following:

Marginal note:Abandonment of proceeding

  • 168. (1) A Division may determine that a proceeding before it has been abandoned if the Division is of the opinion that the applicant is in default in the proceedings, including by failing to attend the interview referred to in subsection 100(4), to appear for a hearing, to provide information required by the Division or to communicate with the Division on being requested to do so.

  • 25. (1) Paragraph 169(c) of the Act is replaced by the following:

    • (c) the decision may be rendered orally or in writing, except for a decision of the Refugee Protection Division in respect of an application for protection under subsection 112(1), which must be rendered in writing;

  • (2) Section 169 of the Act is amended by striking out “and” at the end of paragraph (e) and by adding the following after paragraph (e):

    • (e.1) notice of a decision of the Refugee Protection Division in respect of an application for protection, as well as written reasons for the decision, must, in accordance with the regulations, be provided to the Minister, who must then provide the notice and reasons to the applicant in accordance with the regulations; and

  • (3) Section 169 of the Act is renumbered as subsection 169(1) and is amended by adding the following:

    • Marginal note:Regulations

      (2) The regulations may govern the time within which and the manner in which notice of a decision of the Refugee Protection Division in respect of an application for protection, as well as written reasons for the decision, must be provided.

26. The Act is amended by adding the following before section 170:

Marginal note:Composition

  • 169.1 (1) The Refugee Protection Division consists of the Deputy Chairperson, Assistant Deputy Chairpersons and other members, including coordinating members, necessary to carry out its functions.

  • Marginal note:Public Service Employment Act

    (2) The members of the Refugee Protection Division are appointed in accordance with the Public Service Employment Act.

  • 27. (1) The portion of section 170 of the Act before paragraph (a) is replaced by the following:

    Marginal note:Proceedings

    170. Except in respect of an application for protection made under subsection 112(1), the Refugee Protection Division, in any proceeding before it,

  • (2) Section 170 of the Act is amended by adding the following after paragraph (d):

    • (d.1) may question the witnesses, including the person who is the subject of the proceeding;

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