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MP irate over refugee claim backlog

A Mississauga MP says the federal government is costing Canadians money and risking their security by dragging its feet on filling vacancies at the Immigration and Refugee Board.

A total of 44 adjudicator jobs remain unfilled while the ruling Conservatives attempt to hijack the immigration board, Omar Alghabra (Mississauga-Erindale) told the Canadian Press.

Alghabra was referring to Tory reforms that allow the Immigration Minister more say in the choice of adjudicators. He fears that change will politicize appointments.

Canada's backlog of refugee claims almost doubled in the first quarter of 2007 and Liberal immigration critic Alghabra told CP the Conservatives appear to be deliberately taking their sweet time.

As of March 31, the backlog of cases stood at 6,164, up from 3,495 at the end of 2006.
The Tories are, "hijacking IRB for their own political benefit, whether to appoint their friends or whether to impose their ideology," Alghabra told CP.

Alghabra said the current situation leaves legitimate refugees in limbo longer. That, he says, is unfair. It also increases the financial burden on the state, which provides health, education and social assistance until claims are settled.

Also, bogus refugees get to stay here longer, with potential implications for Canadian security.
Board spokesperson Melissa Anderson told CP the backlog grew by almost 3,000 claims in only three months.
Mike Fraser, a spokesperson for Immigration Minister Diane Finley, said 39 adjudicators have been appointed to the IRB since the Conservatives took office.

Fraser noted that new board members will have to pass a written exam.