Vol. 148, No. 7 — March 26, 2014

Registration

SI/2014-22 March 26, 2014

FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION ACT

Remission Order in Respect of Fees for the Issuance of Passports, Certificates of Identity and Refugee Travel Documents (Alberta)

P.C. 2014-253 March 6, 2014

His Excellency the Governor General in Council, considering that it is in the public interest to do so, on the recommendation of the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Treasury Board, pursuant to subsection 23(2.1) (see footnote a) of the Financial Administration Act (see footnote b), makes the annexed Remission Order in Respect of Fees for the Issuance of Passports, Certificates of Identity and Refugee Travel Documents (Alberta).

REMISSION ORDER IN RESPECT OF FEES FOR THE ISSUANCE OF PASSPORTS, CERTIFICATES OF IDENTITY AND REFUGEE TRAVEL DOCUMENTS (ALBERTA)

INTERPRETATION

1. In this Order, “affected area” means an area where the addresses have

REMISSION

2. Remission is granted to persons who meet the conditions set out in section 3 of the fees paid or payable for the issuance of a passport, certificate of identity or refugee travel document under

CONDITIONS

3. The remission is granted on the following conditions:

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the orders.)

Proposal

The Governor in Council, on the recommendation of the Treasury Board, makes the Remission Order in Respect of Fees for the Issuance of Passports, Certificates of Identity and Refugee Travel Documents (Alberta) and the Remission Order in Respect of Fees for the Replacement of Permanent Resident Cards (Alberta) pursuant to subsection 23(2.1) of the Financial Administration Act (FAA).

Objective

The purpose of the orders is to remit the fee for replacing immigration and/or travel documents that were damaged or lost as a result of the massive flooding in Alberta in June 2013. These orders are being sought as it is in the public interest to assist in providing a quick return to normalcy for individuals whose lives were affected. Individuals affected were and continue to be in crisis situations. They are experiencing a loss of income and employment, as well as unanticipated out-of-pocket expenses and interim costs pending insurance and provincial assistance. Replacement and recovery costs would impose an unreasonable additional burden.

In order to provide strong support for those affected by the massive flooding in Alberta, the following paid or payable fees will be remitted through these remission orders:

Background

In order to demonstrate strong support for those affected by the massive flooding in Alberta in June 2013, the Government of Canada seeks to remit fees for Canadian travel documents and other immigration documents issued to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and persons in Canada with protected person status whose documents may have been lost or destroyed in these events.

On June 20, 2013, heavy rainfall in Alberta triggered catastrophic flooding, which has been described as the worst in Alberta’s history. Areas along the Bow, Elbow, Highwood, Red Deer, Sheep, Little Bow, and South Saskatchewan rivers and their tributaries were particularly affected. A total of 27 local states of emergency were declared and 28 emergency operations were activated as water levels rose and numerous communities were placed under evacuation orders.

Four people were confirmed dead as a direct result of the flooding and over 100 000 people were displaced throughout the region. Some 2 200 Canadian Armed Forces members were deployed to help in flooded areas. Preliminary estimates suggested damage from the floods ranged between $3 billion and $5 billion.

Implications

To assist in providing a quick return to normalcy for individuals whose lives were affected by the massive flood in Alberta in June 2013, a temporary public policy was developed, under section 25.2 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. The public policy temporarily extended immigration status for affected foreign nationals who were legally in Canada on June 20, 2013, and whose status would otherwise have expired prior to September 19, 2013. It also extended status of foreign nationals who were out of status on June 20, 2013, but within the restoration period. These persons had their status automatically extended until September 19, 2013.

The public policy waived the requirement to submit an application, including the requirement to present a valid passport, in order to facilitate the issuance of new immigration documents for temporary status and the requirement to pay the fees associated with the issuance of these documents. The public policy also waived the fee for replacement of lost or destroyed immigration status documents of temporary residents.

The remission orders will remit the fees paid or payable under subsection 308(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations for the replacement of permanent resident cards for eligible permanent residents. The orders will also remit the fees under subsection 2(1) of the Passport and Other Travel Document Services Fees Regulations for the replacement of Canadian passports, certificates of identity or refugee travel documents as well as fees paid or payable under section 4 of the Consular Services Fees Regulations for the issuance of a travel document.

The parameters defining affected areas, for the purposes of travel documents and permanent resident cards, differ. It should be noted that Passport Canada was in the process of transferring its functions to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) when these events occurred. For this reason, established protocols for each department, which outline relevant criteria, were used to determine an affected area for the purpose of replacing damaged or lost documents. For both travel documents and permanent resident cards, the fee remission for persons affected by the Alberta floods is granted to permanent residents, Canadian citizens, and persons in Canada with protected person status. However, the following criteria determine the affected area for the purpose of these orders:

Furthermore, individuals must submit their application for a replacement permanent resident card, Canadian passport, certificate of identity or refugee travel document between June 20, 2013, and September 19, 2013. Individuals must also declare that their valid Canadian passport, certificate of identity or refugee travel document was lost or destroyed as a direct result of the flooding.

Financial implications

Document/Service Replaced

Actual Volumes in Affected Area (Alberta)

Fees

Total Foregone Revenue

Permanent resident cards

3

$50

$150

Passports — adults

162

$120

$19,440

Passports — children

20

$57

$1,140

Certificate of identity

-

$260

-

Refugee travel documents

-

$120

-

Consular services fees (see reference *)

162

$25

$4,050

TOTAL

185

  

$20,730

Reference *
Included in the adult passport, certificate of identity and refugee travel document fees.

The total foregone revenue associated with remitting fees to replace immigration and travel documents in Alberta is $20,730.

A total of $150 in foregone revenue is due to the replacement of permanent resident cards, in 2013–14, calculated on a volume of three persons requiring a replacement permanent resident card at $50 each. A total of $19,440 in foregone revenue results from the replacement of adult passports, in 2013–14, calculated on a volume of 162 persons requiring a replacement passport at $120 each. A total of $1,140 results from the replacement of children’s passports, calculated on a volume of 20 children requiring replacement passports at $57 each. No replacement certificates of identity or refugee travel documents were requested.

Included in these remission orders is the remittance of the $25 consular services fee charged by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD). DFATD charges a consular services fee of $25 on adult passport applications, adult refugee travel documents and certificates of identity. It is not charged when issued to children. This fee is included in the estimates listed above. A total of $4,050 in foregone revenue results from remitting the consular services fee.

Accountability

CIC will report on the foregone revenue associated with these orders. All remissions will be reported in the public accounts as required by subsection 24(2) of the FAA.

The fee remittance for passports, certificates of identity, refugee travel documents, and permanent resident cards only applies to the replacement of these documents. Passport Canada and CIC have access to electronic systems which show whether an individual is applying for a new travel document or a replacement travel document. Government officials verified that replacement travel documents were only issued to individuals who live in the affected area and already had a travel document. Passport Canada required proof of residence in the affected area, and issued replacement documents with a limited validity period equal to the period remaining on the applicant’s lost or damaged travel document.

Communication strategies

On July 2, 2013, Minister Kenney announced the special measures being put in place for those affected by the flood. Web notices were also posted on the Passport Canada’s and CIC’s Web sites.

The Department recommends a responsive communications approach. Media lines and Qs and As have been drafted.

Departmental contact

Martin Mündel
Acting Director
Temporary Resident Program Delivery
Operational Management and Coordination
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
365 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 1L1
Telephone: 613-957-5890
Fax: 613-952-5382
Email: martin.mundel@cic.gc.ca