IMMIGRATION AND SETTLEMENT

1. Francophone Immigration outside of Quebec

WHEREAS:

1. Canada has given itself a “Strategic Framework to Foster Immigration to Francophone Minority Communities” for francophone immigration outside of Québec.  The strategy was crafted by the federal and provincial governments, at the request and with the participation of francophone communities outside of Québec;
2. Canada's current activities of recruitment of francophone immigrants abroad are mostly targeted at francophone countries in Europe, to the detriment of francophone countries in other regions of the world;
3. Francophone immigrants, most of them belonging to racialized communities, face differential treatment and experience poor outcomes in the Canadian labour market and other areas of Canadian life;
4. Yearly target levels for francophone immigration outside of Québec continue to be below the levels needed to ensure the demographic viability of francophone communities outside of Québec;
5. Refugee and immigrant serving organizations outside of Québec have a key role to play in supporting francophone immigrants’ settlement and integration, even if they do not provide services in French;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the CCR:

1. Engage with the federal and provincial governments as appropriate to ensure:
   1. Fair, culturally adapted recruitment practices in francophone countries outside of Europe;
   2. An increase in yearly target levels for francophone immigration so the demographic goals of Canada’s strategy for francophone immigration are met;
   3. That the implementation of Canada’s strategic framework for francophone immigration outside of Québec seeks concrete results of fair and equitable integration of francophone newcomers.
2. Offer its member organizations tools and opportunities to be sensitized to and understand the specific challenges facing francophone immigrants outside of Québec.

2. No to the changes on timelines in Temporary Foreign Workers Program

WHEREAS:

1. Changes to the Temporary Foreign Workers Program to be implemented in April 2011 will impose a four year limit on the stay of Temporary Foreign Workers and a four year delay before they are able to participate again in the program;
2. This will increase the undocumented workforce and thus increase the vulnerability of workers;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the CCR oppose the limit on duration of Temporary Foreign Workers’ stay and the imposed time period to re-apply for the program.

3. Mandatory Monitoring System on Temporary Foreign Workers

WHEREAS:

1. The monitoring system implemented by CIC as part of recent changes to the Temporary Foreign Workers Program is voluntary and therefore ineffective;
2. Abuses of Temporary Foreign Workers by employers are widespread and have been well documented;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the CCR advocate that the federal government enforce a mandatory monitoring system for the employers of Temporary Foreign Workers.

4. Equitable Enforcement

WHEREAS:

1. Temporary Foreign Workers are vulnerable to exploitation and abuse with numerous documented cases;
2. Their vulnerability is increased by contraventions of IRPA committed by employers and recruiters;
3. There are limited or no resources for mandatory monitoring and enforcement;
4. When there is no system of enforcement, Temporary Foreign Workers are the ones penalized, resulting in further victimization;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the CCR:

1. Advocate for provincial governments to protect Temporary Foreign Workers’ rights through workplace audits and enforcement of appropriate legislation, including criminal, against employers and recruiters.
2. Advocate that the federal government:

1. Prosecute recruiters and employers who contravene IRPA.
2. Put in place a mechanism and systems to protect rather than penalize Temporary Foreign Workers who have contravened IRPA as a result of victimization by recruiters and employers;
3. Enter into international agreements whereby Canada and the source countries of Temporary Foreign Workers agree to prohibit the charging to the workers of recruitment and placement fees.

INLAND PROTECTION

5. Referral to services post-eligibility

WHEREAS:

1. Bill C-11 will create very tight timelines;
2. Claimants will need assistance in understanding and preparing for the process;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the CCR call on CIC and CBSA to adopt as a standard operating procedure the referral of claimants to appropriate and willing community agencies, such as an immigrant serving agency or legal aid, in a city or area of choice of the claimant, immediately after eligibility has been determined.

6. Decision-making on H&C applications

WHEREAS:

1. H&C applications are the only applications for permanent residence in Canada in which the best interests of the child and the right to family unity are taken into account;
2. Canada has legal obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to provide effective remedies to ensure the respect of these rights;
3. Delays in processing of H&C applications are leading to more and more people being removed from Canada prior to the examination of pending H&C applications;
4. Under Bill C-11, it is the government’s intention to remove failed claimants very quickly following their refusal;
5. Bill C-11 provides for fixed timelines for every stage of the refugee process;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the CCR advocate for a commitment from CIC to rule on H&C applications within a fixed time frame of four months from the time of filing of the H&C application or, if a removal date is set before that, prior to the scheduled removal date.