New Refugee Bill C-31 to adversely impact our members

The Minister for Citizenship and Immigration Jason Kenney yesterday introduced a Bill in the House of Commons that intends to amend the Refugee Reform Act that was passed in 2010.  The Bill is titled “Protecting Canada’s Immigration Act” and is numbered Bill C-31.

Soon after the Bill was introduced in the House, CEIU Officials met with Senior Management at the IRB to discuss the impact of those amendments on our members. 

Although it will take some time before CEIU is able to understand the full impact of the changes that are being proposed, IRB Management has already prepared a quick analysis of the Bill which will be shared with all staff at meetings occurring on Friday, February 17, 2012.  Plus, the Bill is still subject to adjustments as it passes through all levels before being made into law, which makes it even more difficult to establish what the full impact will be on our Members.

Needless to say, CEIU will continue to monitor the situation in order to deal with the ramifications as they develop.

For now, CEIU is aware of the following if the Bill was to become law as it is currently written (among other things):

- Refugee Claimants will have fewer opportunities to appeal decisions that deny them access under refugee status;
- The interview process that was to come into force in June 2012 is being scrapped;

What this means for our members, in general terms, is that there will be no further need for Tribunal Officers within the IRB.  This clearly constitutes a Workforce Adjustment (WFA) scenario, and Senior Management at the IRB has recognized this as a fact. 

It also means that, for those who were vying for the PM-03 Interviewer positions, those members are likely to be told that the process will be cancelled once the Bill has been enacted, assuming that the interview process will be scrapped.  This will be a tough pill to swallow for those who were hoping to advance their careers through this new venture.

For now, CEIU will be focusing most of its energy on addressing the situation for Tribunal Officers to ensure that their interests under the WFA directive are well protected.  In order to do this, a WFA sub-committee will be struck.  The purpose of the committee will be to discuss ways for our members to remain gainfully employed with the IRB, for example, getting commitment from the IRB that there will be no external hiring until all affected employees are dealt with.  This will also be important for smaller groups that are likely to be affected by these changes.

Please continue to consult with the CEIU website for further developments.