Since the start of the pandemic, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has secured hotel rooms in various cities to provide temporary accommodation for unvaccinated, asymptomatic asylum claimants who did not have a suitable quarantine plan.
Although quarantine requirements were lifted, IRCC continues to provide temporary accommodations to asylum claimants arriving through Roxham Road on an exceptional basis when provincial shelters are full.
The majority of the individuals housed in the IRCC facilities are awaiting transfer to provincial facilities or more permanent accommodations.
While supporting asylum seekers is a shared responsibility, the Government of Canada will continue to support provincial partners to develop shared solutions, particularly in Quebec.
Closing Roxham Road
Asylum claimants are a vulnerable group and Canada has national and international obligations under the Refugee Convention to support refugees and asylum claimants who are eligible for protections.
We encourage asylum claimants to enter Canada at designated ports of entry.
Pressures on Quebec (asylum)
Quebec continues to be a valued partner and we recognize the hard work the province has undertaken to support asylum claimants.
The Government provided provinces with $534.5M including $374M to Quebec, to alleviate asylum-related housing pressures from 2017 to 2020, and the rising costs from the COVID-19 pandemic.
We are considering what further support we can provide as a result of the increase in asylum claim volumes.
Asylum – contracts
When seeking suppliers, factors taken into consideration include but are not limited to: availability, capacity, cost and timelines for delivery of supplies and implementation of the various support services.
Goods and service contracts over $10,000 are posted on the Open Canada portal.
Public Services and Procurement Canada is responsible for the procurement of the temporary accommodations (i.e. hotels).
Asylum – work permits
We have implemented a temporary public policy that will provide asylum claimants with timely access to open work permits which will allow them to enter Canada’s labour market sooner and provide for themselves while they await a decision on their asylum claim.
Providing asylum claimants with access to a work permit earlier on in the process will allow them to access employment opportunities, reducing their dependence on provincial social assistance.
Asylum claimants will need to submit their claim electronically and meet admissibility requirements including health, security and criminality screening.
Asylum – processing and backlogs (online and virtual options)
We are investing new resources in the asylum system to increase capacity and timely processing.
Over the years, we have made great strides in processing more applications virtually, streamlining our policies and increasing flexibility to respond to the current circumstances.
We have enhanced service delivery through initiatives such as the online asylum intake application platform allowing individuals in Canada to apply for asylum protection online.
This will help make the registration and intake process more efficient, in line with our commitment to improve client services and asylum claim processing.
We will continue to work with our partners to test innovative approaches to streamline procedures and reduce processing times.
Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) modernization
Since its implementation in 2004, STCA has been an important tool for both countries to work together to ensure the orderly processing of asylum claims at our shared border.
The Government of Canada is in regular contact with U.S. officials on a range of issues related to our shared border.
We continue to work with our counterparts in the U.S. so that the STCA continues to be a compassionate and fair way to handle asylum claims between our two countries.
STCA (litigation)
The application of the STCA at Canadian and U.S. land ports of entry is in effect and continues to remain in effect while the appeal is ongoing at the Supreme Court of Canada.
People making asylum claims must continue to do so in whichever of the two countries they enter first, unless they qualify for an exemption or exception to the agreement.
Canada believes that the STCA remains a comprehensive means for the compassionate, fair, and orderly handling of asylum claims in our two countries.
Asylum volumes
Asylum claim volumes are difficult to predict and can depend on many factors.
Contingency planning at all levels of government is ongoing and is helping to ensure a well-coordinated response and preparedness.
This is based on lessons learned and incorporates best practices from the asylum seeker influx starting in 2017.
Mexico (asylum)
Mexico’s visa-exemption strengthens our bilateral relationship, creates trade connections, and brought in significant economic revenue from tourism volumes pre-pandemic.
At the same time, the number of asylum claims from Mexican citizens has increased, which puts additional strain on Canada’s asylum system and Canada is concerned about that.
Canada is in regular communication with the Government of Mexico at various levels to discuss migration-related concerns and identify opportunities to address these issues.
The U.S., Canada, and Mexico are working together to address irregular migration and forced displacement in Central America. This includes activities to strengthen the capacity of Mexico’s Asylum Agency for more timely and accurate processing and adjudication of asylum claims.
Mexican nationals entering the U.S. irregularly from Canada
We cannot speculate on why people decide to cross the border between ports of entry.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is responsible for enforcement between ports of entry along the border.
Ministerial Centre for Members of Parliament (MPs) and Senators
Due to increased demands on the Client Support Centre, the Ministerial Centre for MPs and Senators has not been within its internal service standards.
However, the Department has dedicated additional resources to support the Centre for MPs and Senators over the past few months, which has reduced wait times for this channel. IRCC is also modernizing its services and is co-developing an online appointment-based system with MP and Senator offices that was launched on October 31, 2022.
Annual report to Parliament on immigration 2022
In 2021, Canada welcomed the most immigrants in a single year in its history, with nearly 406,000 permanent residents in the economic, family reunification, and refugee or humanitarian streams.
Over 191,000 work and study permit holders transitioned from temporary to permanent resident status.
We also welcomed over 415,000 temporary work permit holders and over 445,000 study permit holders.
These newcomers increase the diversity of Canadian communities, strengthen our economy and grow our learning institutions.
Processing and inventory
Responding to humanitarian crises and updating aging technology to meet demands have led to processing delays and longer wait times.
IRCC continues has a plan to strengthen Canada’s immigration system, with a focus on addressing labour shortages, reuniting families, and improving client experience.
Strengthening our immigration system means focusing on people, families and communities, while being flexible enough to respond to global humanitarian crises and help those who need it most.
Our focus is on reducing existing backlogs, which are the applications that have been in our inventories longer than our service standards.
In the 2022 Fall Economic Statement, the government has committed $1.6B over six years and $315M ongoing in new funding to support the processing and settlement of new permanent residents as part of the 2023-2025 Immigration Levels Plan.
We’ve also committed an additional $50M in 2022-2023 to address ongoing application backlogs, speed up processing, and allow for skilled newcomers to fill critical labour gaps faster.
Differential Outcomes
All eligible asylum claimants receive a fair assessment on the individual merits of their claim at the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.
In making its decisions, the Board takes into account whether an individual has a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, political opinion, nationality, or membership in a particular social group, or are at risk of torture, or cruel or unusual punishment. Each case is decided individually based on its own merits.
Upon receiving a positive decision on their asylum claim, claimants receive protected person status. Once an individual is declared a protected person, they are able to apply to become a permanent resident.
Humanitarian efforts – success stories
Canada is proud to be a global leader in refugee resettlement and in 2021, was the largest receiver of resettled refugees, per the UNHCR’s Global Trends report.
Canada welcomed 20,400 people, more than double from the previous year.
Canada has resettled more than 80,000 Syrian refugees.
Canada’s response to the situation in Afghanistan includes our plan to resettle at least 40,000 vulnerable Afghans to Canada by the end of 2023, which is one of the largest commitments around the world. More than 24,700 Afghans and their family members can now call Canada home.
In July 2021, IRCC launched a dedicated refugee stream to provide a safe haven for human rights defenders at risk who are fleeing persecution in their home country.