CIMM - Summary of Supplementary Estimates C – Mar 8, 2021

Key messages

• The 2020-2021 Supplementary Estimates (C) include new funding for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada of $68.3M which is mainly comprised of incremental funding for the Canada-Quebec Accord on Immigration ($58.6M), new funding for stabilizing the Global Case Management System for future digital platform transformation ($9.7M), and funding for the Security Screening Automation project ($0.3M).
• The latter initiative on Security Screening Automation is also seeking $0.2M in funding, reprofiled from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021 as part of funding approved for Enhancing the Integrity of Canada’s Borders and Asylum System.
• Two new votes were added to these Supplementary Estimates: Vote 15 – Debt forgiveness to grant Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada the authority to perform an internal reallocation of $7K to forgive debts owed to the Crown by a family for immigration loans, and Vote 20 – Debt write-off to authorize the write-off of outstanding immigration loans in the amount of $0.3M. These items are considered “house-keeping’’ items that the Department generally includes in the final Supplementary Estimates submission of the fiscal year. The remaining debts owed to the Crown by the family will be subject to further consideration.
• $0.7M in statutory funding is being sought to cover costs related to Employee Benefits Plans associated with salary funding included in these Supplementary Estimates.
• A transfer of $1.7M to the Canada Border Services Agency for the Air Carrier Support Centre is also included.
• With the approval of these Supplementary Estimates, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s 2020-2021 spending authorities would total $3.4B.

Supporting facts and figures

Funding included in these Supplementary Estimates is comprised of the following items:

1. Funding for the Canada-Quebec Accord on Immigration – $58.6M

   This adjustment is to provide an updated amount for the annual grant provided by the Government of Canada to support settlement and integration services in the province of Quebec under the Canada-Quebec Accord, bringing the total funding of the Accord to $650.2M in 2020-2021.

   The amount to be paid to the Government of Quebec under the terms of the Accord is calculated annually using a year-over-year escalator that is dependent on the percentage change in:

   • total federal expenditures, and
   • the number of non-Francophone immigrants that settle in Quebec.

   Under the Accord, the annual grant may be increased but never decreased.

2. Funding to stabilize the Global Case Management System for future digital platform transformation – $9.7M

   Funding announced in the Economic and Fiscal Snapshot 2020 to stabilize and standardize the information technology system, and build the foundation for a new digital platform. This will support a world-class immigration system through enhanced client service, operational efficiency and program integrity.

3. Funding for the Security Screening Automation Project – $0.3M

   This initiative is led by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Funding was announced in Budget 2019 as part of the “Enhancing the Integrity of Canada’s Borders and Asylum System” initiative. The project is meant to automate the national security screening process in response to pressures facing the in-Canada asylum system. Security screening automation will reduce processing times for low risk cases, thus enabling officers to address increasing asylum claims, meet regulated processing timelines, and allow for more comprehensive review of complex cases of greater concern to national security.

4. Funding to enhance the integrity of Canada’s borders and asylum system – Top-up amount for the Security Screening Automation Project (Reprofile) – $0.2M

   Funding will support the Security Screening Automation project described in the previous item. Funding to enhance the integrity of Canada’s borders and asylum system was initially received through Budget 2019 and a portion of the unused funding, which lapsed at year-end, was reprofiled into 2020-2021 to support this initiative. The Department is further absorbing additional costs using existing reference levels.

5. Funding to write off outstanding immigration loans – $0.3M

   Funding to write off debts from 351 immigration loans compared to 748 in 2018-19 ($0.3M), deemed uncollectable or for which further administrative expenses or other costs of collecting the debt are not justifiable in relation to the amount of the debt or the probability of collection.

   Loans are provided to resettled refugees: Government-Assisted Refugees and Privately Sponsored Refugees.

   Loans are used to cover expenses such as transportation to Canada and admissibility costs, resettlement assistance, as well as the right to permanent residence fees.

6. Internal reallocation of resources to forgive debt owed to the Crown for immigration loans – Nil impact

   This internal reallocation of resources is to forgive a debt in the amount of $6,911 related to an immigration loan based on compassionate grounds.

7. Transfer to CBSA for the Air Carrier Support Centre – ($1.7M)

   This transfer of funding is Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s financial contribution to CBSA for essential services provided by the Air Carrier Support Centre to help facilitate the travel continuum for travelers flying to Canada.

   The amount represents 50% of the estimated cost to operate the Air Carrier Support Centre in 2020-2021. CBSA bears the balance of the cost.

   On November 10, 2016, CBSA began validating Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s Electronic Travel Authorization and other status documents via the Interactive Advance Passenger Information process. To do so, an electronic board/no-board message is sent to commercial air carriers that are connected to the Interactive Advance Passenger Information process to advise if a foreign national holds or does not hold a prescribed document (e.g. an Electronic Travel Authorization or temporary resident visa).

   To coincide with the launch of the Interactive Advance Passenger Information process, CBSA implemented the Air Carrier Support Centre as a pilot to provide assistance for commercial air carriers in determining whether a traveler’s documents are valid for travel to Canada by air further to receiving the automated board/no-board message. This support includes making minor corrections to Department-issued travel documents within the immigration system of record to ensure the correct board/no-board message is sent to commercial air carriers.

Background

• The 2020-2021 Supplementary Estimates (C) represent the third and final supply request this fiscal year.
• These Supplementary Estimates are expected to be tabled in Parliament in February 2021 and supply is anticipated for March 2021.
• Funding related to Employee Benefit Plans consist of employer costs for the Public Service Superannuation Plan, the Canada and Quebec Pension Plan, Death Benefits, and Employment Insurance.