For residents of Ottawa, lean means non-existent. It was recently reported by the Citizen that the Immigration and Refugee Board is embracing “lean” business efficiency practices to deal with applications and appeals more expeditiously. The Immigration and Refugee Board plans to close its Ottawa offices in April 2013. Without any consultation, the federal government has decided there is no need for a board in Canada’s capital. The board serves myriad persons and conducts various types of hearings. Most notably, it conducts refugee hearings, appeals on immigration applications, admissibility hearings, and detention reviews on persons detained under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/op-ed/Ottawa+purgatory+immigrants+refugees/7325192/story.html