Maytree releases Peter Showler’s proposal “Fast, Fair and Final: Reforming Canada’s Refugee System”

Toronto, September 10, 2009 – Changes are needed to ensure that Canada meets its international obligations to protect refugees and to maintain confidence in the system states the report “Fast, Fair and Final: Reforming Canada’s Refugee System” by Peter Showler, released today by Maytree. It details how Canada’s current inland refugee system can take up to eight years to finalize a claim, leaving thousands of claimants in limbo and attracting frivolous claims.

“Reform is needed, but not the kind of reform the government is planning,” explains Peter Showler, Director of the Refugee Forum at the University of Ottawa and former Chairperson of the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB). “Making refugee decisions is an incredibly difficult task. To meet this challenge, a reformed system needs to be based on the following three pillars: A good first decision; a reliable appeal; and the prompt removal of failed claimants.”

In particular, the report recommends the creation of a new Refugee Tribunal with two divisions, a Refugee Claim Division and a Refugee Appeal Division, to replace the IRB. The tribunal members would be appointed solely on merit. The Refugee Claim Division would employ informal procedures to allow refugees to tell their story, and each claimant would be represented by a lawyer. By creating a strong system, the Pre-Removal Risk Assessments, “back-end” Humanitarian and Compassionate applications (H&C) and their associated judicial reviews could be removed from the system.

Under the proposal, refugee claims would be decided in six months, reviewed in four months and removed within three months of a negative appeal decision. The new refugee system would produce accurate and fair decisions, and result in the timely removal of failed claimants.

To download the proposal, visit http://www.maytree.com/policy.

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About Maytree: Established in 1982, Maytree is a private foundation that promotes equity and prosperity through its policy insights, grants and programs. The foundation has gained international recognition for its expertise in developing, testing and implementing programs and policy solutions related to immigration, integration and diversity. www.maytree.com.

Media contact:
Markus Stadelmann-Elder, 416-944-2627 ext. 284, mselder@maytree.com.