On June 29, 2010, Bill C-11, the Balanced Refugee Reform Act, received Royal Assent. This Bill provided the most significant changes to Canada’s refugee law in several years. Getting it through Parliament proved to be extremely contentious, and it took a last minute deal between the Conservatives, the NDP, and the Bloc to pass it. It is now law, though many of its provisions have yet to take effect. The Bill introduced significant changes to Canada’s refugee system, including: Replacing the 28 days to prepare a Personal Information Form with an information-gathering interview which will occur no sooner than 15 days after a claim has been made; Reducing the wait for a hearing from approximately 18 months after arrival to 90 days after the informational interview for most claimants; Allowing the government to designate certain countries of origin. Whether a country is designated or not will depend on the approval rate of refugee applications from that country. If a claimant comes from a designated country, than their hearing will occur 60 days after the informational interview; Creating a Refugee Appeal Division. Decisions on appeals will be held within 120 days of the original decision unless a hearing is held. Decisions … Read More