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Just as they do now, failed DCO claimants will continue to have the option to seek appeal to the Federal Court to review a negative decision. However, they will not have access to the new Refugee Appeal Division at the IRB,

There will be no automatic stay of removal for DCO claimants should they ask the Federal Court to review a negative decision, which means that they could be removed from Canada while their application for review before the Federal Court is pending. In these circumstances, individuals can ask the Federal Court to stay their removal.

"In order for Canadians to continue to strongly support Canada's tradition of providing protection to victims of persecution, they must have faith in the integrity of our asylum system," said Minister Kenney. "With these improvements, we are ensuring that genuine refugees fleeing persecution will receive protection more quickly, while, at the same time, failed asylum claimants from generally safe countries will be removed much faster."

To be considered for designation, a country must meet objective criteria related to the number of finalized asylum claims Canada receives from that country. For countries with 30 or more claims in any consecutive 12-month period during the three years preceding designation, quantitative criteria are used. At least 60% of claimants from the country must have withdrawn and abandoned their own claims, or least 75% of claims from a country have been withdrawn, abandoned, and rejected by the IRB.

In the case of countries with low numbers of asylum claims (i.e., no consecutive 12-month period with 30 or more finalized claims during the three years prior to designation), objective qualitative criteria are used, including the existence of an independent judicial system, recognition of basic democratic rights and freedoms and the existence of civil society organizations.

If a country meets these triggers, a thorough review is undertaken.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, recognised that "there are indeed Safe Countries of Origin and there are indeed countries in which there is a presumption that refugee claims will probably be not as strong as in other countries." And he has recognised the legitimacy of providing expedited processing for asylum claimants from those generally safe countries.

Many developed democracies use a similar authority to accelerate asylum procedures for the nationals of countries not normally known to produce refugees. These states include the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, Belgium and Finland, among others. Some European Union (EU) states also have accelerated procedures for the nationals of other EU member states.

In fact, within the 27 member states of the EU, asylum claims from other EU nationals are considered to be manifestly unfounded. In many of these countries, claims by other EU nationals are considered inadmissible or are subjected to expedited processing. Among other things, this reflects that fact that EU citizens have mobility rights in all neighbouring EU countries.

The Protecting Canada's Immigration System Act is expected to save provinces and territories $1.6 billion over five years in social assistance and education costs.

Canada will continue to have the most fair and generous asylum system in the world," said Minister Kenney. "We welcome 1 in 10 of the world's resettled refugees, more than almost any other country in the world, and we are increasing that number by 20 percent."

Canada's new asylum system is the result of two laws passed by Parliament - the Balanced Refugee Reform Act (June 2010) and the Protecting Canada's Immigration System Act (June 2012) - which amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).

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Photo of Minister Kenney will be available at: www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/photos/high- res/index.asp.

For more information, see these backgrounders:

- Overview of Canada's Refugee Programs

- Designated Countries of Origin

- Summary of Changes to Canada's Asylum System

- Processing of Asylum Claims

For more information on healthcare benefits under the Interim Federal Health Program, visit the CIC website at: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/refugees/outside/arriving-healthcare.asp

Building a stronger Canada: Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) strengthens Canada's economic, social and cultural prosperity, helping ensure Canadian safety and security while managing one of the largest and most generous immigration programs in the world.



Contacts:
Alexis Pavlich
Minister's Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-954-1064

Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650
[email protected]