CIMM Committee Report

Liberal Opinion to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration’s Report on Security

The security of Canada’s immigration system and the safety of Canadians are of paramount importance to the Liberal Party of Canada. While immigration has always been integral to Canada’s growth, our party believes that in order to ameliorate Canada’s immigration policies, it is necessary to ensure that the security of our country’s immigration system remains robust and responsive to a wide-range of security threats. While we support some of the recommendations put forth, due to several areas that are inadequately addressed which are detailed below, we cannot support the report in its entirety.

Biometrics/Risk Assessment

Our party supports recommendations put forth within the report which outline the need for a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to implementing and using biometrics. Moving forward, the use of biometrics to improve security with regards to immigration is certainly an endeavor that our party supports. However, it is essential that in utilizing biometrics or other programs which collect information, that we are clear on the purposes and uses of the data. The government must be explicit on this front; from witness testimony regarding the implementation of the Electronic Travel Authorization Program (ETA) as outlined in Bill C-45, concerns were made regarding the lack of information with respect to the program itself—specifically, how data collected would be used.[1] These issues were not clearly addressed by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) officials who testified before the committee. Furthermore, when questioned, CIC officials were unable to provide costing figures for the ETA program[2] or for appeal mechanisms[3] should an applicant be denied entry. The inability of the Department to provide costing information on the ETA program is troubling and hinders the ability of committee members to adequately evaluate the program.

Additionally, the implementation of the ETA program was based off of the Beyond the Border: A Shared Vision for Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness declaration between Canada and the United States of America. While the implementation of ETA may be necessary to fulfill our country’s obligations to the declaration, to ensure effectiveness, it is essential that fulsome evaluations of the program be developed. Therefore, we recommend that a comprehensive study by CIC be undertaken to evaluate the full cost of the program, the effects the ETA will have on the tourism industry as well as further alternatives to ensure proper cost-recovery for the program such as adherence to the User Fees Act before the program is fully implemented.

Additionally, while the use of biometrics has the potential to strengthen our immigration system, we heard from several witnesses who spoke of the need to maintain the use of personnel for risk assessment rather than relying primarily on automated programs.[4] Thus, we recommend that there is an increase in the number of personnel for risk assessment.

Visas

Our party believes that the report did not provide adequate recommendations to deal with the issue of rejected temporary visas. As such, our party recommends that CIC evaluate the current temporary visa process to identify possible areas of improvement.

Detention

It was clear from Committee visits to immigration detention centres in Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto that whilst CBSA officials followed standardized protocol, the facilities themselves were not comparable. The Vancouver facility for instance, is unique in that detainees can only be held for a maximum of 72 hours. Following that period, they are then automatically transferred to provincial jails. Therefore, we recommend that not only should alternatives to detention be developed, but that priority is made to ensure that alternatives are reviewed for detainees in Vancouver who do not pose a flight risk or a risk to the public before transfers are made to provincial jails.

Public Health

Concerning Canada’s immigration system, more must be done with regards to maintaining public health. It was clear from the Auditor General’s 2011 Fall Report that changes need to be made with respect to health screening for public safety purposes. As such, we are pleased with the recommendation in the report which calls for a review of the objectives of screening for danger to public health. However, witness testimony suggested that the changes made to the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) would be detrimental to public health and security. In particular, a witness spoke of the dangers that asymptomatic diseases such as tuberculosis would have on Canada’s population at large when refugees are not afforded routine healthcare services.[5] Furthermore, the government indicated that no consultations had taken place with regards to the decision to make changes to the IFHP.[6] Therefore, our party recommends that the changes made to the IFHP be reversed and that CIC review the program and establish a consultation process before initiating changes to the program.

Lastly, with regards to the medical examination, due to the changing nature of diseases and health conditions, it was remarked that having an exam valid for one year was not adequate with regards to safeguarding Canada’s public health concerns.[7] Furthermore, due to increasing processing times in various immigration classes, medicals frequently expire before the processing of an application is complete. Therefore, our party recommends that medical examinations be required closer to the time of travel.