Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (S.C. 2001, c. 27)

Marginal note:Decisions and reasons

169. In the case of a decision of a Division, other than an interlocutory decision:

• (a) the decision takes effect in accordance with the rules;

• (b) reasons for the decision must be given;

• (c) the decision may be rendered orally or in writing, except a decision of the Refugee Appeal Division, which must be rendered in writing;

• (d) if the Refugee Protection Division rejects a claim, written reasons must be provided to the claimant and the Minister;

• (e) if the person who is the subject of proceedings before the Board or the Minister requests reasons for a decision within 10 days of notification of the decision, or in circumstances set out in the rules of the Board, the Division must provide written reasons; and

• (f) the period in which to apply for judicial review with respect to a decision of the Board is calculated from the giving of notice of the decision or from the sending of written reasons, whichever is later.

Marginal note:Proceedings

170. The Refugee Protection Division, in any proceeding before it,

• (a) may inquire into any matter that it considers relevant to establishing whether a claim is well-founded;

• (b) must hold a hearing;

• (c) must notify the person who is the subject of the proceeding and the Minister of the hearing;

• (d) must provide the Minister, on request, with the documents and information referred to in subsection 100(4);

• (e) must give the person and the Minister a reasonable opportunity to present evidence, question witnesses and make representations;

• (f) may, despite paragraph (b), allow a claim for refugee protection without a hearing, if the Minister has not notified the Division, within the period set out in the rules of the Board, of the Minister’s intention to intervene;

• (g) is not bound by any legal or technical rules of evidence;

• (h) may receive and base a decision on evidence that is adduced in the proceedings and considered credible or trustworthy in the circumstances; and

• (i) may take notice of any facts that may be judicially noticed, any other generally recognized facts and any information or opinion that is within its specialized knowledge.

Marginal note:Proceedings

171. In the case of a proceeding of the Refugee Appeal Division,

• (a) the Minister may, after giving notice within the period that is required by the rules, intervene in the appeal, including for the purpose of filing submissions;

• (b) the Division may take notice of any facts that may be judicially noticed and of any other generally recognized facts and any information or opinion that is within its specialized knowledge; and

• (c) a decision of a panel of three members of the Refugee Appeal Division has, for the Refugee Protection Division and for a panel of one member of the Refugee Appeal Division, the same precedential value as a decision of an appeal court has for a trial court.