I am long-time Conservative ( nigh on a half-century) but I do not see how Harper could have "this problem under control".  

Remember it was the Tories under Mulroney who in compliance with the 1985 SCOC decision in Singh v Canada (Minister of Employment and Immigration), [1985] 1 S.C.R. 177 were compelled to establish an oral hearing tribunal to hear refugee claimants.  Given our international obligations which we have passed into domestic law to be Charter compliant we must accord refugee claimants "fundamental justice" (our version of due process).

The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act enshrining our international obligations, the  Charter and case law in this area does not leave a lot of room to maneuver.