Vol. 151, No. 20 — October 4, 2017

Registration
SI/2017-55 October 4, 2017

FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION ACT

2017 Toronto Invictus Games Remission Order

P.C. 2017-1194 September 22, 2017

His Excellency the Governor General in Council, considering that it is in the public interest to do so, on the recommendation of the Treasury Board and the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, pursuant to subsection 23(2.1) (see footnote a) of the Financial Administration Act (see footnote b), makes the annexed 2017 Toronto Invictus Games Remission Order.

2017 Toronto Invictus Games Remission Order

Definition

1 In this Order, participant means any foreign national who is seeking to enter Canada as

Remission

2 Remission is granted

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order.)

Proposal

The Governor in Council, on the recommendation of the Treasury Board, has made this Remission Order, under subsection 23(2.1) of the Financial Administration Act, in respect of fees paid by certain foreign nationals for the processing of applications for temporary resident visas and service fees related to the provision of biometric information.

Objective

The purpose of the Remission Order is to remit to foreign nationals who are participating in the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto certain fees paid by them, in order to demonstrate Canada’s commitment to the games and to reflect the honour of being chosen as the host country. The foreign national must be one or more of the following: a competitor, coach, judge, team official, medical staff member or member of a national or international sports organizing body participating in the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto. For clarity, team officials include friends and family accredited by the Invictus Games.

Foreign nationals who meet these conditions will receive a refund for fees paid for the processing of an application for a temporary resident visa to enter Canada under subsection 296(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (the Regulations or IRPR), and for the provision of services in relation to the collection of biometric information under Division 2.1 of Part 2 in respect of an application for a temporary resident visa under subsection 315.1(1) of the Regulations.

The following paid fees (per application) will be remitted through the Remission Order:

Temporary resident visa fee (subsection 296(1) of the IRPR)

$100

Services fee in relation to the collection of biometric information (subsection 315.1(1) of the IRPR)

$85

Background

The Invictus Games is an international multi-sports event for injured or sick armed services personnel and veterans that was first held in the United Kingdom in 2014. From September 23 to 30, 2017, the third Invictus Games will be held in Toronto and will feature 558 competitors and 1456 team officials, including accredited family members and friends, from 17 participating countries.

Participants and officials attending the Invictus Games will be required to be properly documented for entry to Canada, and depending on their nationality, this could include the requirement to hold a temporary resident visa under section 7 of the Regulations and to pay the processing fees under subsection 296(1). Furthermore, under subsection 315.1(1) of the Regulations, a service fee related to the provision of biometric information under Division 2.1 of Part 2 of the Regulations could also be required in respect of an application for a temporary resident visa.

According to the records of the Department of Citizenship and Immigration, up to 212 individuals who meet the conditions of the Remission Order could have paid fees requiring remission. A public policy has been established by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration under section 25.2 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to exempt foreign nationals if they meet the same conditions as the Remission Order from paying the fees if they apply for a temporary resident visa after September 14, 2017.

Implications

General

The Remission Order will assist a foreign national who is a competitor, coach, judge, team official (including friends and family accredited by the Invictus Games), medical staff member or member of a national or international sports organizing body participating in the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto by remitting any fees paid under subsection 296(1) of the Regulations for temporary resident visa fees, and any service fees paid under subsection 315.1(1) in relation to the collection of biometric information.

In order to be eligible for the remittance of fees, individuals must meet the conditions of the Remission Order and must have paid the above fees.

Financial implications

Fee paid by the applicant

Number of applicants who paid the fee (see footnote 1)

Fee amount

Total estimated foregone revenue

Temporary resident visa

212

$100

$21,200

Service fees in relation to the collection of biometric information

48

$85

$4,080

TOTAL

$25,280
Accountability

The Department will report on the foregone revenue associated with this Remission Order. All remissions will be reported in the Public Accounts as required by subsection 24(2) of the Financial Administration Act.

Departmental contact

Kyle Burns
Director Cabinet and Regulatory Affairs
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
365 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 1L1
Email: Kyle.Burns@cic.gc.ca