Order-in-Council on Avoiding Complicity in Mistreatment by Foreign Entities: 2024 Annual Report

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Introduction

In accordance with subsection 7(1) of the Avoiding Complicity in Mistreatment by Foreign Entities Act (ACMFEA), this report is presented to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, and describes the activities that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has undertaken between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024, to ensure compliance with the Order-in-Council on Directions for Avoiding Complicity in Mistreatment by Foreign Entities.

Background

On September 4, 2019, IRCC was issued an Order-in-Council on its information sharing practices pursuant to Section 3(1) of the ACMFEA. The Order-in-Council directs that:

1. No disclosure of information be made to a foreign entity, which would result in a substantial risk of mistreatment of an individual, unless it is determined that the risk can be mitigated.
2. No request for information be made to a foreign entity, which would result in a substantial risk of mistreatment of an individual, unless it is determined that the risk can be mitigated.
3. No information that was likely obtained through the mistreatment of an individual by a foreign entity be used in any way that: a) creates a substantial risk of further mistreatment; b) as evidence in any judicial, administrative or other proceeding; or, c) in any way that deprives someone of their rights or freedoms unless the Deputy Minister or, in exceptional circumstances, a senior Department of Citizenship and Immigration official designated by the Deputy Minister determines that the use of the information is necessary to prevent loss of life or significant personal injury and authorizes the use accordingly.

Since 2019, IRCC has established and maintained policies and procedures to ensure compliance with the ACMFEA, including a risk assessment tool for officers contemplating information exchanges with foreign entities; a consultation process for officers seeking risk assessment and guidance for a specific case; and, an ad hoc Avoiding Complicity Assessment Committee to be convened in the event there is a need to determine whether or not the risk(s) can be mitigated.

International Information Sharing Practices at IRCC

IRCC undertakes information exchanges with international partners to aid in the administration of legislation for which the Minister is responsible (the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the Citizenship Act, and the Canadian Passport Order) and to fulfill its mandate to facilitate the travel to and integration of people in Canada, while maintaining the safety and security of Canadians.

International information sharing is a valuable tool that helps IRCC to, inter alia:

• Verify the identity of IRCC applicants, which supports application processing and simplifies entry for legitimate travellers; and
• Strengthen officers’ decision-making by providing access to records that may be pertinent to determining an individual’s eligibility and/or admissibility to Canada, including whether an individual poses a risk to the safety and security of Canadians.

International Information Sharing Arrangements

IRCC continues to utilize its information sharing arrangements with trusted international partners – Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It is in accordance with these information sharing arrangements that the vast majority of IRCC’s information sharing takes place. These administrative arrangements are available to the public and expressly preclude the sharing of information that may place an individual or their family at risk of serious or significant harm, including refoulement, persecution, torture or any other type of harm. Information is only shared with partner countries in a manner that respects privacy laws, civil liberties and human rights.

• In 2024, amendments were made to the Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America for the Sharing of Visa and Immigration Information, done at Ottawa on December 2012 (the “Agreement”) to bring permanent residents of Canada and the United States into the scope of the Agreement.

Other International Information Sharing

In certain circumstances, IRCC may also exchange information with a foreign partner with whom it does not have an agreement or arrangement, as authorized by Section 8 of the Privacy Act.

Depending on the circumstances, exchanges of this nature are only conducted at the discretion of an officer or other delegated official after considering the relevant authorities and the intended use of the information, including an assessment of whether the exchange of information could lead to the substantial mistreatment of an individual. Officers are also instructed to ensure that all exchanges are recorded for tracking purposes.

Implementing Avoiding Complicity in Mistreatment

IRCC continues to monitor, maintain and refine the existing processes and procedures that were initially established in response to the receipt of the Order-in-Council in 2019.

Legal Requirements of the ACMFEA

• The annual report for calendar year 2023 was submitted to the Minister, and has been made available to the public as required by the ACMFEA.

Internal Activities

• In the 2024 calendar year, IRCC approved the Country-Level Risk Assessment Tool to support the triage process and allow the development of in-house country risk profiles. IRCC finalized nine (9) country risk profiles in 2024.
• IRCC continued the review of the existing program delivery instructions to provide officers with additional background information about the ACMFEA and the Order-in-Council.
• Moreover, IRCC continued raising awareness of the ACMFEA policies and procedures through training sessions for officers and processing staff, including those working overseas, inland and at case processing centers.

Inter-Agency Cooperation

• In the 2024 reporting period, IRCC continued to participate in regular inter-departmental discussions, led by Public Safety, along with other subject departments and agencies, with the intent to facilitate greater collaboration and information-sharing between members as they implement the ACMFEA and the corresponding Order-in-Council.
• IRCC also responded to the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency’s (NSIRA) requests for information on the Department’s policies and procedures for implementing the ACMFEA. The requests for information served as part of NSIRA’s annual review of the implementation of the ACMFEA across the Government of Canada.

Activity Report

In the 2024 reporting period, IRCC completed assessments for seven (7) cases where officers requested a further risk assessment pursuant to IRCC’s policies and procedures.

“Disclosure” cases resulting from requests by foreign entities for information, requiring additional risk assessment

• IRCC assessed six (6) cases of disclosure of information from which two cases also involved a request for information.

“Request” cases requiring additional risk assessment

• IRCC assessed three (3) cases of request for information.

“Use” cases requiring additional risk assessment

• IRCC had no cases in the 2024 reporting period.

Cases requiring referral to the Avoiding Complicity Assessment Committee

• IRCC had no cases in the 2024 reporting period.