Pass the refugee reform bill
Immigration Minister Jason Kenney must be credited for introducing the long-overdue refugee reform bill – and for accepting amendments proposed by Liberal critic Maurizio Bevilacqua.

Globe and Mail editorial

The Liberals should support new legislation that will reform Canada's beleaguered refugee determination system, introduce a new appeal process and hasten the removal of rejected claimants.

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney must be credited for introducing the long-overdue bill – and for accepting amendments proposed by the Liberal immigration critic, Maurizio Bevilacqua. It is a welcome sign that a flexible and consensual approach can allow a minority government to accomplish its goals. It helps that Liberals too have long acknowledged the need to reform a system that has a backlog of 60,000 claims, and includes democracies such as Mexico and Hungary as top source countries for asylum seekers.

Yet implementing change has been difficult. There are vociferous opponents, including refugee advocacy groups, lawyers and some members of the Liberal caucus.

The bill’s new Refugee Appeal Division and the appointment of bureaucrats, not political appointees, as first-level decision-makers, are sensible changes that few oppose.

Under amendments to the bill, bureaucrats would decide whether an applicant would be considered eligible within 15 days, instead of the proposed eight days, and the case would be heard by the Immigration and Refugee Board within 90 days, instead of the proposed 60. Compared with the current process, this is much speedier.

Those not on a newly designated list of “safe” countries would be able to appeal to the new refugee appeal division. To address concerns that this list not be driven by political considerations, an amendment to the bill requires an advisory panel, including two independent human-rights experts, to have input. This too enhances the fairness of the process.

Though many have criticized the “safe-country” list, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has called this an acceptable management tool, as long as safeguards are in place. Those from “safe” countries may still appeal to the Federal Court.

The bill ensures that due process is followed, while bringing finality to cases in a timely fashion. This is better for Canada and for refugees, and, if it passes, a political coup for Mr. Kenney.