It was an honour to contribute to the study by the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM) on the impact of COVID-19 on the immigration system. The final report can be found here; Download Immigration in the time of COVID-19 Report of the Standing Committee. There has been massive disruption to our immigration system. Disruption very often leads to change; it seems clear that IRCC and the other stakeholders within the immigration system will have to embrace the greater use of technology from application to adjudication. Chantal Desloges and I both touched upon the possibility of technology as an aid to both adjudication and administrative efficiency. Numerous witnesses support IRCC’s digitizing processing streams and use of virtual interviews and ceremonies, and support the IRB’s use of virtual hearings. They advocated keeping these innovations in place after the pandemic is finished.[13] Raj Sharma, Managing Partner, Stewart Sharma Harsanyi, commented on the IRB beginning to use remote refugee hearings and appeals after having delayed all cases: At the beginning of this pandemic, eligibility determinations, refugee hearings and appeals were cancelled and delayed … which added to the grief and anxiety of those affected by the pandemic. However, hearings have resumed, with... Read more →