IMMIGRATION AND SETTLEMENT

1. Conditional Permanent Residence

WHEREAS:

1. The government of Canada is proposing to introduce a specified period of conditional permanent residence for some sponsored spouses and partners;
2. Making permanent residence for the sponsored partner conditional puts all the power into the hands of sponsor, who may use the precarity of the partner’s status as a tool for manipulation;
3. The proposed conditional permanent residency would represent a major step backwards in Canadian immigration policy, increase inequalities in relationships between spouses, and put women in particular at heightened risk of violence and exploitation;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the CCR oppose conditional permanent residence for sponsored spouses and partners.

2. Sub-Saharan African visa posts

WHEREAS:

1. The international community issued a call for action following the World Conference Against Racism (WCAR) held in 2001 in Durban, South Africa and the Government of Canada presented Canada’s Action Plan Against Racism in 2005;
2. Examples of concerns include significant delays in the processing of cases in Sub Saharan African countries. Applicants face some of the longest waiting times and one of the highest rate of refusals, and the total quota of refugees accepted from the region is far lower than the extent of need identified by the UNHCR and NGOs. The recent announcement of a quota system for Quebec will reduce only the number of arrivals from Africa;
3. This is clear evidence of systemic racism experienced by individuals of African origin across all categories of refugee protection and immigration.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the CCR call on the government of Canada to take specific steps to address systemic racism evident in policy and practice in refugee protection and processing of immigration files of Sub-Saharan Africans, and reiterate the request made to the Government of Canada in resolution 7 of May 2007 and Resolution 1 of June 2010 (page 21).

OVERSEAS PROTECTION AND SPONSORSHIP

3.   PSR program

WHEREAS:

1. The Canadian people through their faith and ethnocultural organizations wish to welcome and protect refugees;
2. The Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program allows Canadians to welcome and protect refugees;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the CCR:

1. Reaffirm our support of the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program to allow Canadians to protect and welcome refugees;
2. Oppose any government limit or ceilings on the PSR program.

INLAND PROTECTION

4.   Access to an appeal on humanitarian grounds (criminality cases)

WHEREAS:

1. Permanent residents who are found to be inadmissible on grounds of serious criminality or organized crime are denied access to the Immigration Appeal Division;
2. Convention refugees in Canada can be removed for reasons of serious criminality if there is a danger opinion against them;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the CCR call for refugees and permanent residents facing removal on the basis of serious criminality or organized crime to have access to the IAD for consideration of humanitarian and compassionate factors.