1. IRREGULAR MIGRATION Overview - 2018 August 13, 2018

2. Refugee Convention Grounds
Introduction
Canada’s asylum system reflects our obligations to the principle of non-refoulement:
Persons should not be removed to a country where they would be at risk of persecution, torture, risk to life or risk of cruel and unusual treatment or punishment.
International Conventions
Refugee Convention
Convention Against Torture
Domestic Law
Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
Refugee Convention Grounds
Fear of persecution on the basis of:
Race
Religion
Nationality
Political opinion
Membership in a particular social group
Canada’s strong humanitarian tradition is clearly reflected in our two refugee programs.
The first is through the Refugee Resettlement Program, where visa officers select persons in need of protection abroad and we bring these individuals to settle in Canada as permanent residents.
The second, and the focus of my presentation, is through the in-Canada Asylum System. This system is based on our international obligation to not send someone back to risks of persecution, torture or risks to life.
Asylum seekers arriving irregularly (i.e. not at ports of entry) are a part of the in-Canada asylum stream.

3. Global Migration Flows are increasing…
All-time high number of migrants worldwide – 258 million people on the move.
Including the largest humanitarian crisis since World War II - more than 65 million people forcibly displaced in 2017, including 22.5 million refugees.
Largest migration of people on the move – 258 Million
Which includes “largest humanitarian crisis since World War II – more than 65 million people forcibly displaced in 2017, including 22.5 million refugees
Drivers include:
Economic opportunity
Technology/awareness
Growing middle class
Geopolitical
Humanitarian crises
Climate change

4. Historical Asylum Trends in Canada from 1994 to 2018
Historically, asylum claim trends in Canada have been occurring in peaks and troughs over the past 24 years. This data is inclusive of both regular and irregular migrants.
*Data are preliminary and subject to change.
*Source: IRCC Asylum Claimants, June 30, 2018 Data

5. Asylum Statistics
2017
Canada received over 50,000 asylum claims, a historic high.
60% of those claimants arrived in a regular manner at a port of entry or inland.
There were also approximately 21,000 interceptions of irregular migrants between ports of entry (approx. 40% of all claims).
2018
Between January 1 and June 30, 2018, claims increased by 38% compared to same time last year.
Canada received 25,794 asylum claims between January 1 and June 30, 2018, compared to 18,673 over the same period last year.
June 2018 numbers for irregular arrivals were the lowest recorded in the year.
Although there has been a noticeable increase in the number of RCMP intercepts along the border, claims have increased inland, at airports and Ports of Entry (Border) as well.
*These numbers are preliminary and will not match official IRCC numbers.
** Not all irregular migrants are intercepted by the RCMP. Asylum claimants intercepted by other enforcement organizations or who are otherwise identified as having crossed irregularly (e.g., self-reported) may also be coded as irregular migrants.
*Source: CICEDW (MBR) as of July 11, 2018

6. Quebec AS Interception by Week
Total intercepts from January to June ,375
Total intercepts from January to June ,744

7. Irregular Migration – Quebec and Ontario
TRIAGE:
Asylum seekers that arrive in Quebec are held in federal lodging until Quebec can take them for processing.
Quebec can house up to a max claimants at a given time. The current intake pace is between 50 and 75 a day.
However, we estimate that 30-40% leave Quebec by their own means and move to Ontario, mainly Toronto.
To reduce the burden on Toronto and have a contingency in place should numbers exceed Quebec's capacity, we are setting up a triage and transit system for an orderly and well managed flow whereby:
Claimants would be triaged at the Quebec border (Lacolle) to determine their province of ultimate destination.
If claimants choose Ontario (or potentially with other provinces) they will be sent to the NAV Centre in Cornwall, Ontario.
TRANSIT
Claimants at the NAV Centre will be relocated to municipalities that have capacity to receive them until their IRB claim is heard.