The Trudeau government is planning to quietly introduce new measures to rubber-stamp the approval of many asylum seekers — including people from dangerous and war-torn countries who may pose a threat to Canada’s national security.

To deal with the unprecedented spike in landed asylum claims from aspiring refugees to Canada, Trudeau government officials are working on a plan to accelerate refugee applications by bypassing some of the important screening and vetting measures currently used by Canadian officials.

According to two senior sources — both former high-ranking officials in the department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the new policy would fast-track and quickly accept asylum claims from countries with historically high acceptance rates into Canada by the Immigration Refugee Board (IRB).

Examples of countries that could fall under this category include Pakistan, Syria, Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, and Eritrea.

According to a notice quietly posted on the IRB website last month, the government is working to fast-track applications.

“As a result of rapidly increasing refugee claims, global instability and a backlog of new refugee claims, the IRB will be changing its approach for scheduling RPD (Refugee Protection Division) hearings beginning at the end of March 2017,” the notice says.

It goes on to state that, under the new forthcoming process, “certain claims identified by the RPD as straight forward will be scheduled for a short hearing.”

A former official familiar with this process told the Toronto Sun that in these circumstances, that process would mean that “certain claims may be approved without a hearing” and instead would be rubber-stamped based on a “paper-based only” application.

The IRB notice goes on to state: “Countries which have an acceptance rate at the RPD of approximately 80% or higher will be the first to be considered for inclusion in the new short hearing process.”

Unfortunately, countries with high acceptance rates for refugees, such as Pakistan and Syria, also tend to have significant numbers of claims rejected for national security reasons, including individuals affiliated with terrorist organizations and those wanted for war crimes.

This fact is causing many government officials to worry about Canada’s national security.

Rather than slowly and carefully screening and vetting landed asylum claims — those arriving in Canada unannounced, without any prior background checks — the government is opting to rush through these important screening measures.

Another immigration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to his current connection with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, said he is “a bit uncomfortable with this,” noting that “some bad dudes come from these countries.”

REACTION SWIFT

Politicians quickly weighed in after the Sun posted Candice Malcolm’s story on reports that the Liberals are planning to rubber stamp potentially dangerous asylum seekers.

“Trudeau has no plan to deal with illegal border crossings in Manitoba, and now does this. Why bother with a border at all? Unacceptable,” Conservative MP Michelle Rempel posted to social media.

“Border security is no joke, except when Trudeau thinks it is. He doesn’t care about the security of Canadians,” Rempel, who is the official opposition critic for immigration, added.

Trudeau has no plan to deal with illegal border crossings in Manitoba, and now does this. Why bother with a border at all? Unacceptable. https://t.co/a1qDqm0mXV — Michelle Rempel (@MichelleRempel) April 27, 2017

Conservative leadership candidate Deepak Obhrai also jumped into the fray.

“Not the right solution!” the Alberta MP posted to social media. “We need to set up special refugee tribunals immediately.” Such tribunals are a part of Obhrai’s campaign platform.

Not everyone had the same response. British Columbia MP Jenny Kwan, the NDP critic for immigration, lambasted the story as “shameful fearmongering” and stated that all refugee claimants undergo security checks.

NOT the right solution! WE NEED to set up special Refugee tribunals immediately - https://t.co/EnOb9eQZfC#cdnpolihttps://t.co/ml7hLxOccU — Hon Deepak Obhrai PC (@deepakobhrai) April 27, 2017

However Kwan offered no evidence to refute the Sun story, which cites sources who say changes are forthcoming.

Stay tuned for updates on this story in the coming days.