Less than a week after the government said it would require online submissions for all asylum seekers into Canada, the immigration minister's office now says that will not be the case.
The government has dropped the idea — according to a spokesperson for Immigration Minister Sean Fraser — which was introduced in the budget tabled Thursday by Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
On page 119 of the budget, the government outlined its intention to change the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, to "require the electronic submission of asylum claims." Ottawa-based refugee and immigration lawyer Arghavan Gerami, seen here in summer 2020, says those without access to technology have a hard time using the online portal.
Gerami said every second counts while making asylum applications. If claimants are stuck waiting to have access to technology or counsel, "they will still have the onus of explaining the additional delay for not having made the claim earlier. So that in turn will cause more anxiety for them."In her statement, Strickland said the government made its decision "based on consultations with many stakeholder groups and clients.
"We found it really a very big barrier for people to get over," said Janet Dench, executive director for the Canadian Council for Refugees.
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