The experience of refugee claimants at refugee hearings in the new system

"In December 2012, Canada's refugee determination system underwent important changes, as a result of amendments to the Immigration and Refuge Protection Act. In the revised system, claimants must comply with faster timelines for providing basic information and for appearing at the hearing on their claim. The claim is determined by the Refugee Protection Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board, whose members are now civil servants, rather than appointed by Cabinet, as was the case before the amendments. Following a selection process to staff the Refugee Protection Division under the revised rules, most decision-makers are new in this role. In light of the changes, the Canadian Council for Refugees decided, in consultation with its members, to repeat a research project conducted in 2011"--