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Refugee Appeal Division

Refugee Appeal Division. Navigating the Sea of Change Refugee Lawyers Group CLE February 8, 2013. Presentation Objective. Describe the appeal process at the Refugee Appeal Division (RAD), with reference to : Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), as amended by

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Refugee Appeal Division

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  1. Refugee Appeal Division Navigating the Sea of Change Refugee Lawyers Group CLE February 8, 2013

  2. Presentation Objective • Describe the appeal process at the Refugee Appeal Division (RAD), with reference to: • Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), as amended by • Balanced Refugee Reform Act (BRRA), and • Protecting Canada’s Immigration System Act (PCISA) • Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR), registered November 30, 2012 • Refugee Appeal Division Rules (RAD Rules), registered November 30, 2012 2

  3. Appeal to the RAD – Appellants IRPA, s. 110(1) • Appeal to the RAD may be made: • by the person who is the subject of the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) proceedings, or • by the Minister • Against a decision of the RPD to allow or reject the person’s claim for refugee protection

  4. Appeal to the RAD – Grounds IRPA, s. 110(1) • Person or the Minister may appeal to RAD on a • question of law • question of fact, or • question of mixed law and fact

  5. No Appeal to the RADIRPA, s. 110(2) • No appeal to the RAD in respect of an RPD decision regarding: • designated foreign national (DFN) (IRPA, s. 20.1) • withdrawn or abandoned claim • no credible basis or manifestly unfounded claim • exception to the Safe Third Country Agreement • designated country of origin (DCO) (IRPA, s. 109.1)

  6. No Appeal to the RAD (cont’d)IRPA, s. 110(2) • No appeal to the RAD in respect of an RPD decision regarding: • Minister’s application that refugee protection has ceased (whether allowed or rejected) • Minister’s application to vacate refugee protection (whether allowed or rejected) • claim described in Transitional Provisions (BRRA, ss. 36(1) and 37)

  7. No Appeal to the RAD (cont’d)IRPA, s. 110(2) • No appeal to the RAD in respect of an RPD decision regarding: • deemed rejection of claim because of Extradition Act (IRPA, s. 105(4)) • application for protection, i.e., Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) (IRPA, s. 112(1))

  8. RAD ProceedingsIRPA, s. 110(3) • RAD must proceed without a hearing, • on the basis of the record of the RPD proceedings, • except that the RAD may, in accordance with certain provisions of IRPA, • accept documentary evidence and written submissions, and • conduct an oral hearing

  9. RAD Proceedings – New Evidence – PersonIRPA, ss. 110(3), (4), (5) • RAD may accept documentary evidence and written submissions from the person who is the subject of the appeal • the person may present only evidence • that arose after the rejection of their claim, or • that was not reasonably available, or • that the person could not reasonably have been expected in the circumstances to have presented, at the time of the rejection • however, that restriction does not apply in respect of evidence presented in response to evidence presented by the Minister

  10. RAD Proceedings – New Evidence – MinisterIRPA, ss. 110(3), 171(a.5) • RAD may accept documentary evidence and written submissions from the Minister • the Minister may, at any time before the RAD makes a decision, submit documentary evidence and make written submissions in support of the Minister’s appeal or intervention in the appeal (IRPA, s. 171(a.5))

  11. Oral HearingIRPA, s. 110(6) • RAD may hold a hearing if, in its opinion, there is documentary evidence referred to in subsection 110(3) (i.e., “new evidence”) (a)  that raises a serious issue with respect to the credibility of the person who is the subject of the appeal; (b)  that is central to the decision with respect to the refugee protection claim; and (c) that, if accepted, would justify allowing or rejecting the refugee protection claim.

  12. Composition of PanelIRPA, s. 163 • Matters before a Division shall be conducted before a single member unless the Chairperson is of the opinion that a panel of three members should be constituted • For three-member panels: • possible participation of UNHCR and other interested persons (interveners) (IRPA, s. 110(3)) • decisions are precedential (IRPA, s. 171(c))

  13. RAD DecisionsIRPA, s. 111(1) • After considering the appeal, the RAD shall make one of the following decisions: (a)  confirm the determination of the RPD; (b)  set aside the determination and substitute a determination that, in its opinion, should have been made; or (c)  refer the matter to the RPD for re-determination, giving the directions to the RPD that it considers appropriate.

  14. RAD Decisions (cont’d)IRPA, s. 111(2) • RAD may make the referral to the RPD under IRPA, s. 111(1)(c), only if it is of the opinion that (a) the decision of the RPD is wrong in law, in fact or in mixed law and fact; and (b) it cannot make a decision without hearing evidence that was presented to the RPD.

  15. Key RAD Time Limits – Filing and PerfectingIRPR, ss. 159.91(1), (2) • 15 days from receipt of written reasons for the RPD decision to file the appeal • 30 days from receipt of written reasons for the RPD decision to perfect the appeal • If the appeal cannot be filed and perfected within those time limits, the RAD may, for reasons of fairness and natural justice, extend that time limit by the number of working days that is necessary in the circumstances 15

  16. Key RAD Time Limits – RAD Decision IRPR, ss. 159.92(1), (2) 16 Time limit for the RAD to make a decision on an appeal is 90 days after the day on which the appeal is perfected, except when a hearing is held If it is not possible for the RAD to make a decision on an appeal within 90 days, • the decision must be made as soon as feasibleafter that time limit

  17. Structure of the RAD Rules 17

  18. Part 1: Appeals Made by the PersonRAD Rules 2 – 7 • Rule 2(1) – to file the appeal, the person must provide the RAD with three copies of a written Notice of Appeal • Rule 2(2) – RAD gives a copy to Minister • Rule 2(3) – content of Notice of Appeal: • contact information (appellant; counsel; designated representative) • language of appeal (English / French) • CIC identification number / RPD file number • Rule 2(4): time limit to file set out in IRPR, s. 159.91 (15 days from receipt of written reasons for RPD decision) 18

  19. Part 1: Appeals Made by the PersonRAD Rules 2 – 7 • Rule 3(1) – to perfect the appeal, the person must provide the RAD with two copies of the Appellant’s Record • Rule 3(2) – RAD gives copy to Minister • Rule 3(3) – content of Appellant’s Record: • RPD notice of decision and written reasons • all or part of transcript relied on • any documents refused by RPD • any documentary evidence relied on • law, case law or other legal authority 19

  20. Part 1: Appeals Made by the PersonRAD Rules 2 – 7 • Rule 3(3) – content of Appellant’s Record (cont’d): • written statement indicating • whether appellant is relying on new evidence (IRPA, s. 110(4)) • whether appellant is requesting an oral hearing (IRPA, s. 110(6)) and if they are making an application for change of location (Rule 66) • language and dialect to be interpreted at a hearing, if necessary 20

  21. Part 1: Appeals Made by the PersonRAD Rules 2 – 7 • Rule 3(3) – content of Appellant’s Record (cont’d): • Memorandum with detailed submissions regarding • errors that are grounds of the appeal • where the errors are located in the RPD reasons, transcript, or audio recording • how evidence is “new” and relates to the appellant • the decision the appellant wants the RAD to make • why RAD should hold a hearing 21

  22. Part 1: Appeals Made by the PersonRAD Rules 2 – 7 Rule 3(4) – Memorandum must be not more than 30 pages, if single-sided; 15 pages, if double-sided Rule 3(5): time limit to perfect set out in IRPR, s. 159.91 (30 days from receipt of written reasons for RPD decision) 22 22

  23. Part 1: Appeals Made by the PersonRAD Rules 2 – 7 • Minister may intervene at any time before the RAD makes a decision (IRPA, s. 171(a.4)) • Rule 4(1) – Intervention by the Minister Minister intervenes by filing: • written Notice of Intervention together with any documentary evidence that the Minister wants to rely on (mandatory) • Rule 4(3) – Intervention Record (optional because of IRPA, ss. 171(a.5)) 23

  24. Part 1: Appeals Made by the PersonRAD Rules 2 – 7 24 Rule 5 – the person replies to the Minister’s intervention by filing a Reply Record Reply Record must be received by the RAD no later than 15 days after the appellant received • the Minister’s Notice of Intervention, • the Minister’s Intervention Record, or • any additional documents provided by the Minister, as the case may be

  25. Part 1: Appeals Made by the PersonRAD Rules 2 – 7 • Rule 6(1) – Application for extension of time to file or to perfect • in accordance with Rule 37 (general applications rule) • grounds set out in IRPR, s.159.91(2): • fairness and natural justice • Rule 6(4) – application for extension of time to file must be accompanied by three copies of Notice of Appeal • Rule 6(5) – application for extension of time to perfect must be accompanied by two copies of Appellant’s Record 25

  26. Part 1: Appeals Made by the PersonRAD Rules 2 – 7 • Rules 6(6) and (7) – Application for extension of time to reply to Minister’s Intervention • in accordance with Rule 37 • in deciding the application, the RAD must consider all relevant factors, including: • whether application made in a timely manner and justification for any delay • whether there is an arguable case • prejudice to the Minister, if granted, and • nature and complexity of the appeal 26

  27. Part 1: Appeals Made by the PersonRAD Rules 2 – 7 • Rule 7 – Disposition of an Appeal Unless a hearing is held, the RAD may, without further notice to the parties, decide an appeal on the basis of materials provided: • if 15 days have passed since Minister received the appellant’s record, or the time limit for perfecting the appeal has expired; or • if the reply record has been provided, or the time for providing it has expired 27

  28. Part 2: Appeals Made by the MinisterRAD Rules 8 – 13 Rule 8 – Filing the appeal by the Minister • Rule 8(1): to file the appeal, the Minister must provide, first to the person, a writtenNotice of Appeal, and then to the RAD, two copies of the written notice of appeal • Rule 8(2): content of notice of appeal • Rule 8(3): proof it was provided to the person • Rule 8(4): time limit set out in IRPR, s. 159.91 (15 days from the receipt of written reasons for RPD decision) 28

  29. Part 2: Appeals Made by the MinisterRAD Rules 8 – 13 Rule 9 – Perfecting the appeal by the Minister • Rule 9(1): to perfect the appeal, the Minister must provide “any supporting documents”, first to the person and then to the RAD • Rule 9(2): content of appellant’s record (optional) • Rule 9(3): length of memorandum • Rule 9(4): proof documents were provided to the person • Rule 9(5): time limit set out in IRPR, s. 159.91 (30 days from the receipt of written reasons for RPD decision) 29

  30. Part 2: Appeals Made by the MinisterRAD Rules 8 – 13 Rule 10 – To respond, the person files: • written Notice of Intent to Respond together with the Respondent’s Record • no later than 15 days after: • the day the respondent receives “any supporting documents” from the Minister, or • if an extension of time to perfect was allowed, the day on which the respondent is notified of the extension Rule 11 – Reply by the Minister (Optional and at any time) 30

  31. Part 2: Appeals Made by the MinisterRAD Rules 8 – 13 • Rule 12(1) – Application by the Minister for extension of time to file or to perfect • in accordance with Rule 37 • grounds set out in IRPR, s.159.92(2) • fairness and natural justice • Rule 12(2) – Application for extension of time to file must be accompanied by two copies of a written Notice of Appeal • Rule 12(3) – Application for extension of time to perfect must be accompanied by any supporting documents, and an Appellant’s Record, if any 31

  32. Part 2: Appeals Made by the MinisterRAD Rules 8 – 13 • Rules 12(4), (5) – Application by Person for an extension of the time to respond • Rule 12(6) – Factors: • whether application made in a timely manner and justification for any delay • whether there is an arguable case • prejudice to the Minister, if granted, and • the nature and complexity of the appeal 32

  33. Part 2: Appeals Made by the Minister RAD Rules 8 – 13 • Rule 13 – Disposition of an AppealUnless a hearing is held, the RAD may, without further notice to the parties, decide an appeal on the basis of materials provided: • if 15 days have passed since the Minister received the respondent’s record or the time limit for providing it has expired, or • if the Minister’s reply has been provided 33

  34. Part 3: Rules Applicable to All Appeals RAD Rules 14 – 54 Covers many topics such as: • Communication with the Division • Counsel • Language of the Appeal • Designated Representative • Specialized Knowledge • Notice of Constitutional Question • Documents • How to make an Application • Joining or Separating Appeals • Proceedings conducted in public, etc. 34 34 34

  35. Part 3: Rules Applicable to All AppealsRAD Rule 43 • Assignment of Three-Member Panel • ordered by Chairperson (IRPA, s. 163) • parties notified, as well as UNHCR, and the Minister even if the Minister has not yet intervened in the appeal • UNHCR is provided with RPD proceedings and RAD appeal documents and submissions • UNHCR may provide notice of intention to provide written submissions 35

  36. Part 3: Rules Applicable to All AppealsRAD Rule 46 • Application by an “interested person” (intervener) to participate in an appeal conducted by a three-member panel includes: • explanation of why the applicant wants to participate • submissions, and explanation of how they are relevant • explanation of how their submissions differ from those of person and Minister and how it will help RAD decide the appeal 36

  37. Part 3: Rules Applicable to All AppealsRAD Rule 49 37 • Application to Reopen an Appeal • may be made only if Federal Court has not made a final determination (IRPA, s. 171.1) • must not be allowed unless there was a failure to observe a principle of natural justice • procedure where allegation of inadequate representation by counsel

  38. Part 4: Rules Applicable to RAD HearingsRAD Rules 55 – 68 38 Covers many topics such as: • fixing a date • notice to appear • conduct of a hearing • appellant in custody • interpreters • observers • additional documents • witnesses • application to change location of hearing • application to change date and time of hearing • abandonment

  39. Part 4: Rules Applicable to RAD HearingsRAD Rules 55 – 68 39 Rule 57 – Conduct of a Hearing • restricted to issues provided in notice to appear, unless RAD orders otherwise • unless the RAD orders otherwise, the standard order of questioning will be: (1) by appellant; (2) by any other party; (3) by appellant in reply; and (4) by RAD • limiting questioning of witnesses • oral representations, unless RAD orders otherwise • limits on representations

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