RECOMMENDATION

Her Excellency the Governor General recommends to the House of Commons the appropriation of public revenue under the circumstances, in the manner and for the purposes set out in a measure entitled ``An Act respecting immigration to Canada and the granting of refugee protection to persons who are displaced, persecuted or in danger''.

SUMMARY

This enactment replaces the existing Immigration Act, providing clearer, modern legislation to ensure that Canada's immigration and refugee protection system is able to respond to new challenges and opportunities. The enactment provides for

    (a) objectives that reflect the values of Canadian society;

    (b) effective reporting to Parliament through a complete, consolidated annual report;

    (c) agreements that facilitate cooperation with provinces and foreign states;

    (d) a description of the major classes of foreign nationals - economic class, family class, and Convention refugees and persons in similar circumstances;

    (e) recognition of Canada's commitment to the principle of the ``best interest of the child'';

    (f) clear, objective residency requirements for permanent residents;

    (g) a strong, effective refugee protection program that incorporates the protection grounds of the Geneva Convention and the Convention Against Torture and the grounds of risk to life or of cruel and unusual treatment or punishment;

    (h) a more efficient refugee determination process through greater use of single member panels;

    (i) a Refugee Appeal Division within the Immigration and Refugee Board to enhance fairness and consistency in decision-making;

    (j) tightened ineligibility provisions for serious criminals, security threats and repeat claimants who seek access to the refugee protection process of the Immigration and Refugee Board;

    (k) formalization of a pre-removal risk assessment to review changed circumstances related to risk of return;

    (l) inadmissibility provisions for criminals, persons who constitute security threats, violators of human rights and persons who should not be allowed into Canada because of fraud, misrepresentation, financial reasons or health concerns;

    (m) clear detention criteria with authority to further clarify detention grounds in regulations;

    (n) enhanced procedures for dealing with security threats through admissibility hearings and the security certificate process;

    (o) offences for human smuggling and trafficking with a maximum penalty of life in prison;

    (p) penalties for assisting in obtaining immigration status by fraud or misrepresentation; and

    (q) an immigration appeal system that enhances integrity and effectiveness while maintaining fairness and legal safeguards.