Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has pledged to enhance transparency and communication with immigration applicants, following a critical investigation by Canada’s Information Commissioner.
The move comes in response to a dramatic increase in Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) requests. These requests—often used by applicants to determine the status of their application or understand the reasons behind a refusal—surged to nearly 117,000 during the 2019–2020 fiscal year, a 42% increase over the previous year. This spike led to a 670% rise in related complaints to the Office of the Information Commissioner, prompting an in-depth inquiry.
The commissioner’s special report, published on May 25, found that IRCC’s lack of transparency and limited available client information were driving the high volume of ATIP requests. For many individuals, particularly those outside Canada, filing such requests is difficult without local representation, causing delays and inefficiencies in accessing key immigration information.
Rather than relying heavily on backend requests, the Information Commissioner urged IRCC to proactively publish more detailed and helpful information about application processes and decisions. The report emphasized that the current system is not only burdensome but also unsustainable in the long term.
In response, IRCC outlined plans to improve client communication and reduce the need for ATIP filings. Key measures include updates to the “MyAccount” portal, push notification functionality, and revamped website content to provide clearer guidance and status updates. These adjustments are slated to roll out as early as the third quarter of 2021.
Additionally, IRCC is developing a new format for Temporary Resident Refusal letters, which will offer more comprehensive explanations when applications are declined. This aims to address one of the most common reasons for ATIP requests: applicants seeking deeper insight into rejection decisions.
However, IRCC indicated it would not release verbatim officer notes to applicants, a detail frequently sought by immigration hopefuls. While this omission may disappoint some, the broader shift toward proactive disclosure is expected to ease pressure on the system and improve the client experience.
Maple News will continue tracking how these proposed changes unfold and their potential impact on immigration applicants worldwide.