The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) recently became aware that a contractor providing interpretation services inappropriately subcontracted some of his work to other individuals without authorization by the IRB.
Based on an internal investigation, we have concluded that this misconduct was limited and isolated in scope, representing less than 0.3% of hearings between June 1, 2020 and December 14, 2022.
The IRB immediately stopped using this interpreter's services, launched an internal investigation and added new administrative safeguards so this can never happen again. We have also informed the Privacy Commissioner and referred this matter to the Toronto Police Service for investigation (https://www.tps.ca/media-centre/news-releases/55029/). We have contacted all those who may have suffered a breach of privacy as a result of the disclosure of personal information to an unauthorized person.
Early results of an independent audit have found no concerns with the quality of interpretation services provided. Nonetheless, out of an abundance of caution and to maintain confidence in the integrity of the Board's adjudicative processes given this irregularity, the IRB has contacted all affected parties to provide them with an opportunity to have their cases re-opened should they so wish. For the few cases over which the IRB no longer has control, the IRB has shared the information with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and legal counsel of record.
If we have not contacted you on this issue, your hearing was not affected and there is nothing you need to do.
The misconduct of this contractor is unprecedented at the IRB and is simply unacceptable. We are taking this matter seriously and have implemented the necessary measures to protect the interests of those involved and to safeguard the integrity of IRB's adjudicative processes.