The report, “Migrant Workers: Precarious and Unsupported”, released by Canada’s nine national, regional and provincial umbrellas of organizations serving newcomers, compiles the responses from 167 organizations on the needs and realities of migrant workers, by province and region.
The report concludes that all migrant workers should have access to settlement services and permanent residence.
“Access to services is fundamental to ensuring that people in Canada are safe from abuse – yet most migrant workers don’t have this access,” said Loly Rico, President of the Canadian Council for Refugees. “Access to permanent status is also key to protecting basic rights.”
The Canadian Council for Refugees welcomes the recent statement by Minister Goodale about seeking appropriate review mechanisms for CBSA and proposes a model as a contribution to the government’s deliberations.
Like many others, the CCR has long called for an independent complaint and oversight body for the CBSA. While CBSA has sweeping police powers, including the power to arrest and detain people, there is no independent oversight body to review its actions and to ensure respect for the human rights of refugees, migrants, and Canadians who deal with the agency. Most other enforcement agencies in Canada, such as municipal and provincial police, and the RCMP, have various complaints and investigation agencies to supervise their conduct.
Newcomers to Canada show great adaptability. Although some, especially those who come to Canada as refugees, have endured traumatic experiences before arriving in Canada, they respond with resilience to those experiences, as well as to the stress of settling in a new country. Family and community support, spiritual and cultural practices, art, recreation and other non-medical interventions play an important role in promoting positive mental health.
The Canadian Council for Refugees has released a position paper that gives a brief outline of the CCR’s main concerns relating to refugees and mental health. It focuses on refugees, but many aspects apply to other newcomers, particularly those who have suffered serious human rights abuses, such as survivors of trafficking, and those with precarious status, such as migrant workers.
Since soon after the Refugee Appeal Division (RAD) was implemented in December 2012, there have been differences of opinion about the nature of the appeal.
This question has now been clarified by the Federal Court of Appeal which rendered its decision in Huruglica on 29 March 2016.
This decision is good news for refugees: the Court decided that the appeal is a full appeal, and that the members of the RAD must do their own analysis of the record, rather than deferring to the decision-maker at the Refugee Protection Division who heard the claimant. The standard to be applied is one of correctness.
The CCR intervened jointly in this case jointly with the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyesr (CARL), represented by Audrey Macklin and Anthony Navaneelan.
CCR National Spring Consultation: Saskatoon, June 2 to 4, 2016
Join us in Saskatoon this June to explore questions affecting refugee protection and newcomer settlement at the Canadian Council for Refugees Spring Consultation. We will be taking stock of achievements and challenges in welcoming Syrian refugees.
We are pleased to announce that the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship John McCallum will be participating.
All are welcome!
With views from all Canadian provinces and with participants in fields as diverse as healthcare and the law, the conference offers opportunities for professional development, networking and strategy.
The CCR Endowment Fund was created to provide a secure, long-term source of income to support and sustain the mission of the Canadian Council for Refugees.
If you, or someone you know, are thinking of leaving a legacy gift or making a major donation that will be invested in long-term support, contributing to the CCR Endowment Fund is a great way to make a powerful impact in the years to come.
Join us in Saskatoon this June to explore questions affecting refugee protection and newcomer settlement at the Canadian Council for Refugees Spring Consultation. We will be taking stock of achievements and challenges in welcoming Syrian refugees.
The CCR Endowment Fund was created to provide a secure, long-term source of income to support and sustain the 
