An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the Federal Courts Act

Short title: Balanced Refugee Reform Act Bill C-11 (40-3) Status: Royal assent received Type: House Government Bill Sponsor: Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism (Calgary Southeast) Latest stage: Royal assent

Legislative

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On 30 March 2010, the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism introduced Bill C-11,

An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the Federal Courts Act (Balanced Refugee Reform Act), in the House of Commons and it was given first reading.

Bill C-11 amends the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Among other things it

• provides for the referral of a refugee claimant to an interview with an Immigration and Refugee Board official, who is to collect information and

schedule a hearing before the Refugee Protection Division. The bill also provides for the appointment process for members of the Refugee Protection Division;

• provides for the coming into force of an appeals process for claimants to appeal a decision of the Refugee Protection Division to the Refugee Appeal Division;

• authorizes the Minister to designate, in accordance with the process and criteria established by the regulations, safe countries of origin and countries whose nationals are precluded from appealing to the Refugee Appeal Division;

• prescribes the type of evidence that may be put before the Refugee Appeal Division and the circumstances in which that Division may hold a hearing;

• prohibits a person whose claim for refugee protection has been rejected from applying for a temporary resident permit or applying to the Minister for protection in cases where less than 12 months have passed since their claim was rejected;

• prescribes the Minister’s authority to grant permanent resident status or an exemption from any obligations of the Act on humanitarian and compassionate grounds or on public policy grounds;

• authorizes the Minister, in respect of applications for protection, to exempt nationals, or classes of nationals, of a country or part of a country from the 12-month prohibition;

• limits the circumstances in which the Minister may examine requests for permanent resident status or for exemptions from any obligations of the Act on humanitarian and compassionate grounds; and

• enacts transitional provisions for pending claims.

The enactment also amends the Federal Courts Act to increase the number of Federal Court judges. House of Commons — First reading: Completed (2010-03-30) House of Commons — Second reading: Completed (2010-04-29) House of Commons — Consideration in committee: Completed (2010-06-11) House of Commons — Report stage: Completed (2010-06-15) House of Commons — Third reading: Completed (2010-06-15) Senate — First reading: Completed (2010-06-15) Senate — Second reading: Completed (2010-06-17) Senate — Consideration in committee: Completed (2010-06-28) Senate — Third reading: Completed (2010-06-28)

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