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CBC
18 hours ago
- Politics
- CBC
$68M project to secure, revamp Canada's asylum system shut down unexpectedly, documents show
Social Sharing A $68-million project led by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that was meant to revamp Canada's outdated asylum system and enhance the integrity of the country's borders was quietly shut down last year — an "unexpected" move for some in the government because it was only partly completed, internal documents show. Now, some critics fear the outcomes that were achieved may be more harmful than beneficial for people seeking protection in Canada. IRCC's "asylum interoperability project" began in 2019 and was supposed to wrap up by 2022. It came during a surge of asylum seekers entering Canada, putting pressure on an already struggling system that relied heavily on paper files. Its launch followed calls for major reform. The main goals of the project was "to transform the asylum system" into a digital one, automate data and create real-time information sharing between three departments — IRCC, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB). If these tools are so effective and being implemented, then why do we still have this backlog? - Wei Will Tao, immigration and refugee lawyer It also hoped to "enhance integrity, security and deterrence within the asylum system," while improving efficiency and service to claimants, documents show. It allocated about $48.4 million to IRCC, $15.5 million to CBSA and $3.8 million to the IRB over several years to meet these goals, an internal document shows. IRCC said it had used 75 per cent of its allocated funds. Through access to information documents, CBC News has learned the project was abandoned in February 2024 after it failed to get another extension from the Department of Finance. But just months after prematurely halting this project, then Immigration minister Marc Miller told the House of Commons immigration committee: "I want to reform the system. It's not working in the way it should." At the time, he said Canada's asylum and refugee system was still struggling due to volume and inefficiency. According to records obtained by CBC, about 64 per cent of the interoperability project was accomplished. IRCC either scrapped or "deferred" the rest of the tasks to future major IT projects. "The decision to close the project was unexpected," reads a 2024 CBSA briefing note. The latest IRB data shows a backlog of 288,198 pending applications as of last month — a historic high that's nearly tripled since June 2023, when the interoperability project was well underway. "The first question is, if these tools are so effective and being implemented, then why do we still have this backlog?" said Wei Will Tao, an immigration and refugee lawyer. Automation, online portal among goals achieved All three departments operate their own IT systems, "causing program integrity risks" and delays, a project document reads. While incrementally rolling out improvements until its shutdown in 2024, the project faced "capacity issues," "black-out periods" in IRCC's internal application processing tool Global Case Management System (GCMS), and a "downgrade" in priorities which led to delays past its 2022 finish date, records say. The project still managed to build an online refugee application process, and automated case creation, data entry and admissibility checks, according to documents. For IRB hearings, the project also allowed more real-time information exchange between departments. The process to detain and remove people from Canada was also "enhanced," according to a CBSA briefing note, citing the ability to automatically cancel valid work or study permits when a removal order is issued, among other improvements. But there were several wish list items the project couldn't make happen — like a CBSA officer portal and online applications for pre-removal risk assessments (an application for people facing removal from Canada.) Another task that was skipped — a function to "view notes associated with a claim in one place," which would have helped officers' workflow, CBSA records show. In a closing note, one government official noted that "the project did deliver on every benefit identified but not all to the depth it aimed to." IRCC declined an interview. The department didn't specify which tasks it was unable to complete, but said in an email those may be part of future projects. IRCC has hundreds of millions of dollars allocated to digital modernization in the coming years. Impacts felt, but questions remain "The actual project itself and the fact that there's huge funding … that came to us as a bit of a surprise," said Tao, who's part of a collective of experts monitoring AI and technological advances in Canada's immigration system. Tao said he didn't "want to deny the positivity" of some digital advancements. But he raised questions around transparency, the kind of information being exchanged between the three departments and how it's being used by each partner — especially because the IRB is an arms-length, independent tribunal. These so-called streamline mechanisms are actually making life harder for people. - Syed Hussan, Migrant Rights Network "What if there's information that's being transmitted behind the scenes that we're not a party to, or that could implicate our clients' case without us knowing?" asked Tao, founder of Heron Law Offices in Burnaby, B.C. Despite multiple followups, the IRB did not respond to CBC's requests for information. IRCC wrote to CBC that the IRB maintains its adjudicative independence. "We do have serious concerns about this interoperability — being yes, an efficiency tool and a way for things to be streamlined — … [but] is our ability to contest these systems being altered, or even perhaps barriered, by these tools?" Tao asked. "Digitization is not the answer," said Syed Hussan, spokesperson for the Migrant Rights Network. "These so-called streamline mechanisms are actually making life harder for people." Hussan said the digital-focused application system has "caused immense havoc" for some people with technological barriers. He also questions the "enormous focus" on sharing private information between agencies and the oversight of that. "What is framed as a technical step forward is actually a series of policies that make it harder for refugees to gain protection," said Hussan. "It's part of a broader turn rightward towards Trump-like policies in the immigration system." Hussan said what the system actually needs is more resources for settlement organizations and claimants who need protection. "Instead there's actually just mass firing of federal civil servants as well as underfunding of settlement agencies and money being put into these digitization projects — which largely seem to be about streamlining removals rather than ensuring rights," Hussan said. Canada enforced more removal orders in the past year than in any other 12-month period since 2019 — 18,048 in the 2024-25 fiscal year, according to CBSA data. NDP MP and immigration critic Jenny Kwan said she was also in the dark about this project. "The quiet abandonment of the initiative is very troubling and speaks to a further failure of the system," said Kwan in an email to CBC. She is demanding answers from the Liberal government. IRCC said in an email that the decision to close out the project early was unrelated to workforce adjustments or restructuring. "While [this project] delivered important advancements, Canada continues to face significant migration pressures," wrote IRCC, pointing to the Strong Borders Act (Bill C-2). The department said the reforms in that legislation will build on "the foundation laid" by the asylum interoperability project, and "further modernize and protect the integrity of the system." CBSA said in a statement it's "committed" to work with IRCC to incorporate more improvements in future projects. The Department of Finance declined to comment.
New Straits Times
19 hours ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Najib's bankruptcy case adjourned to Sept 8 over disorganised submissions
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak's bid to stay bankruptcy proceedings was postponed after the High Court raised concerns over disorganised and incomplete submissions by his legal team. Judicial commissioner Suhendran Sockanathan @ Saheran Abdullah also instructed Najib's lawyer Muhammad Farhan Shafee to refile a consolidated set of submissions after finding that key issues were either missing or scattered across documents. Farhan had earlier argued that the Inland Revenue Board's (IRB) RM1.69 billion tax claim against Najib was tied to funds allegedly received from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), which were still the subject of ongoing criminal and civil proceedings. He submitted that there were unresolved legal issues surrounding whether the alleged proceeds of criminal activity could be taxed under Section 4 of the Income Tax Act 1967. "The IRB has treated the sums received through the appellant's personal accounts, alleged to have originated from 1MDB, as income. "These amounts do not fall within the scope of Section 4 of the Income Tax Act. Furthermore, provisions under the Anti-Money Laundering Act are also involved," he said during the proceeding today. Farhan also told the court that these matters were pending before the Special Commissioners of Income Tax, and a final ruling had yet to be made. He also raised the issue of potential double recovery by the government, saying there were attempts to penalise his client under both criminal and tax laws using the same facts. However, the court pressed Farhan repeatedly for clarity, pointing out that these central arguments were either not included in the written submissions or only briefly referenced in affidavits. "None of this is (arguments) in your submissions, you know? "At the moment, you are all over the place. "I do not want to have bits here and bits there... it is too cumbersome," Saheran said. Farhan then suggested that the court grant a short date to allow his team to update and streamline their submissions. He acknowledged that their arguments had not been presented in a structured manner and expressed his willingness to return to court with a more comprehensive and organised set of submissions. Saheran: I think yes... Farhan, I think you need to focus a bit more. Farhan: Sure. Saheran: Update the submissions and get it to us... I do not want this to be sitting on my docket. For a long period of time. How long will it take? Farhan: We can file it within the week. Saheran: Take two weeks... but do it properly. Senior federal counsel Norhisham Ahmad, who appeared for IRB, also supported the call for clearer submissions, adding that many of the appellant's arguments had not been raised in their original filings. The court then fixed Sept 8 to hear the case. Najib is appealing against two bankruptcy notices stemming from additional tax assessments amounting to RM1.46 billion, which have now ballooned with penalties and interest to RM1.69 billion. The former prime minister maintains that the tax assessments are flawed and should not proceed while related matters are being litigated in other courts. On June 25, 2019, the government, through IRB, filed the suit against Najib asking him to settle the unpaid tax with interest at five per cent, a year from the date of judgment, as well as costs and other relief deemed fit by the court. The government claimed that Najib had failed to pay his income tax from 2011 to 2017 within the stipulated 30-day period after assessment notices were issued by the IRB.
The Star
a day ago
- Business
- The Star
TNB gets leave for judicial review
PETALING JAYA: The High Court granted leave to Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB), through its subsidiary TNB Western Energy Bhd, to commence judicial review against the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) in relation to a tax assessment totalling RM291.6mil for the financial year ended December 2018. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia yesterday, TNB said it was also granted an interim stay of all further proceedings, including the enforcement of the assessment notice, until the disposal of the substantive hearing. The High Court scheduled a case management on Aug 5. Earlier this month, the Federal Court ruled in favour of the IRB concerning an additional tax assessment, also for 2018. The court overturned earlier High Court and Court of Appeal decisions that had favoured TNB, reinstating a tax bill initially set at RM1.81bil, which was reduced to RM1.25bil after a penalty remission in December 2020. The ruling clarified that TNB, as a utility company, should claim tax relief under schedule 7B (investment allowance) of the Income Tax Act 1967, not schedule 7A (reinvestment allowance) meant for manufacturers. This decision could lead to a total tax liability of RM5.05bil for TNB for 2013 to 2018 with potential additional assessments for 2020 and 2021. TNB is assessing the financial impact, which may affect its earnings and net assets for 2025, and plans to pursue investment allowance claims under schedule 7B. Although the ruling has set a precedent for TNB's tax obligations, it is not expected to impact its operations.
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
TNB granted leave for judicial review on RM291.6mil tax bill
PETALING JAYA: The High Court granted leave to Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB), through its subsidiary TNB Western Energy Bhd, to commence judicial review against the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) in relation to a tax assessment totalling RM291.6mil for the financial year ended December 2018. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, TNB said it was also granted an interim stay of all further proceedings, including the enforcement of the assessment notice, until the disposal of the substantive hearing. The High Court scheduled a case management on Aug 5 for further directions. Earlier this month, the Federal Court ruled in favour of the IRB concerning an additional tax assessment, also for the year 2018. The court overturned earlier High Court and Court of Appeal decisions that had favoured TNB, reinstating a tax bill initially set at RM1.81bil, which was reduced to RM1.25bil after a penalty remission in December 2020. The ruling clarified that TNB, as a utility company, should claim tax relief under Schedule 7B (Investment Allowance) of the Income Tax Act 1967, not Schedule 7A (Reinvestment Allowance) meant for manufacturers. This decision could lead to a total tax liability of RM5.05bil for TNB for the years 2013 to 2018, with potential additional assessments for 2020 and 2021. TNB is assessing the financial impact, which may affect its earnings and net assets for 2025, and plans to pursue Investment Allowance claims under Schedule 7B. The ruling sets a precedent for TNB's tax obligations but is not expected to impact its operations.
India Today
4 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Anti-terror agency takes over probe into 2024 Manipur military camp arms loot
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has officially taken over the probe into the case involving looting of arms and ammunition from the 5th India Reserve Battalion (IRB) camp at Chingarel Tezpur in Imphal East last incident happened on February 13, 2024, when a mob — mainly comprising local youngsters — stormed the IRB camp and overpowered security personnel, looting a large cache of weapons as the state was caught in ethnic confrontation ensued between the intruders and the security forces, leading to an exchange of gunfire and a serious security lapse in the region. The looted items included four INSAS rifles, one AK Ghatak 2 rifle, several SLR magazines, and sixteen boxes of 9mm ammunition. Some of these arms were later recovered by security the aftermath of the incident, six individuals were arrested for their alleged involvement in the seven personnel of the 5th IRB were suspended for negligence and failure to prevent the directives from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the NIA re-registered the case under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Arms Act, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).The anti-terror agency has moved the NIA Special Court in Manipur, requesting the transfer of all documents, exhibits, and evidence currently held by Lamlai police to its Investigating Officer (IO).The central agency is expected to focus on unearthing the full extent of the conspiracy behind the looting and investigate possible links to militant outfits or insiders within the force.A magisterial inquiry ordered by the Manipur government on February 19, 2024, was supposed to submit its findings within 30 days, but the report remains authorities have confirmed that a portion of the looted arms were voluntarily surrendered by individuals or through community-led came after appeals from the government and local civil society organisations, encouraging those not involved in violence to return stolen arms without fear of these developments, a significant number of looted weapons remain missing and are feared to have reached the hands of armed groups or radicalised individuals, worsening the fragile law-and-order situation in the arms looting is one among many such incidents that have occurred since ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities broke out in May than 4,000 weapons and lakhs of rounds of ammunition were reported looted from police stations and camps during the peak of the many arms have been recovered through operations by state and central forces, thousands are still unaccounted NIA's involvement is seen as a crucial step toward establishing accountability and tracing the source and distribution network of the stolen weapons. The case remains under active investigation.- EndsTrending Reel IN THIS STORY#Manipur
