CCR Resolutions Database

That the CCR:

1. Urge the Government to review the 60/40 ratio in order to increase the numbers of Humanitarian class cases being processed.
2. Urge the Government to establish and implement service standards for all immigration categories which are simple, fast (in less than 8-12 months) and accessible.
3. Reaffirm a consistent application for all posts of the policy priorizing refugees.

That the CCR request that:

1. The criteria for deciding on humanitarian and compassionate requests in the IP-5 Manual be modified to read “unusual and undeserved hardship” with the addition of “or sufficient family ties.”
2. The departmental police and guidelines be modified so that, in the absence of significant countervailing factors, the following categories will benefit from a favourable presumption in analysis of humanitarian applications:
   a) Married couples with a valid relationship will not be separated by removal during the processing of the permanent residence.
   b) Applicants with Canadian children will be generally accepted for permanent residence in Canada.
   c) Applicants with over five years in Canada of continuous presence are generally allowed to stay in Canada.
   d) Applicants with children who have become culturally acclimated to Canada and have over three years Canadian schooling should generally be accepted for residence.> e) Applicants whose removal would create significant disruption to a Canadian employer or to other Canadian employees should warrant humanitarian considerations.
   f) Torture or rape victims should not normally be sent back to the country where they suffered rape or torture. Serious risk of re-traumatisation must be an important humanitarian concern.

That the CCR demand that CIC to make any change in terms and conditions publicly available as soon as such changes are made.

That the CCR request the government of Canada to work with the UNHCR and other countries to increase the levels of support and security given to refugees repatriating through UNHCR initiatives.

That the CCR call on the Governments of Canada and the Provinces to permit children of refugee claimants, failed refugee claimants and children who are themselves refugee claimants or failed refugee claimants awaiting decisions on applications to CIC and who are not removable, to attend Canadian schools and post secondary educational institutions at the same fees and requirements as Canadian residents.

That the CCR write to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration underlining our commitment to Government Assisted Refugees, and the principle of selection based on need, and requesting that the number of GARs NOT be reduced under any circumstances.

That the CCR:

1. Officially recognize the People of Colour Caucus and provide a space for the caucus at all future consultations.
2. Acknowledge and take practical steps to overcome the systemic barriers to full participation when planning future consultations.

That CCR request CIC to amend the IP5 Guidelines to correct this misunderstanding and to clarify that protected persons continue to be exempt from medical and financial criteria for landing and to benefit from other provisions to facilitate the landing of protected persons including special provisions for identity documents when the protected person is unable to obtain a passport to confirm identity.

That the CCR:

1. Call on CIC to develop guidelines on what constitutes “sufficient” evidence for the purposes of PRRA decision-makers.
2. Call on CIC to develop guidelines on what constitutes expert evidence or testimony for PRRA decision-makers.
3. Propose that CIC form a consultative committee with CCR, other NGOs and lawyers to analyze and make recommendations on the PRRA system.
4. Ask the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration to study the overall effectiveness of the PRRA process in light of Canada’s international human rights obligations.

That the CCR demand that CIC and HRSDC:

1. Ensure that temporary workers are fully informed of their rights under the program before or when they enter Canada;
2. Ensure that temporary workers are given control of their own papers.

That the CCR urge CIC to:

1. Develop a policy which clearly states that reporting newborn children will not jeopardize a family’s passage to Canada.
2. Communicate this policy to all embassies and UNHCR requiring that this policy be broadcast throughout the refugee population.
3. Distribute this policy to refugee support systems in Canada for dissemination in ethnocultural communities.
4. Facilitate a variety of avenues in which to report newborn children and ensure that applicants receive such information.

That the CCR, in collaboration with other sector organizations, seek funding from appropriate sources and contingent upon securing appropriate resources, undertake a feasibility study on Professional Certification within the settlement sector.

That the CCR ask the Government of Canada to urge UNHCR to insist as a matter of principle in its discussions and negotiations with host governments and governments of countries of origin that refugees, especially refugee women, be included as active partners in the negotiation, planning and implementation of all voluntary repatriation processes.

That the CCR:

1. Recognize that recourse to sanctuary may be necessary to protect asylum seekers whose lives or security would be jeopardized if removed from Canada.
2. Deplore the recent, first-known, violation of sanctuary in Canada by police acting with force and in apparent close cooperation with CBSA and other government officials.
3. When sanctuary is necessary, encourage those providing it to inform the CCR membership, so that members may assist in encouraging the government to reconsider the situation that leads to sanctuary.
4. Take appropriate action to encourage the government to reconsider the situation that leads to sanctuary.
5. Re-affirm the need for the implementation of the appeal on the merits for refused refugee claimants.
6. Call upon the Canadian government to continue to respect the historic right of sanctuary.

That the CCR request CIC to:

1. Increase the hours of LINC eligibility for low literacy clients.
2. Provide additional supports for programming targeting such clients over and above standard ESL provisions in the same manner as that for skilled immigrants under the ELT stream.

That the CCR urge CIC to simplify the overseas refugee determination process, and to eliminate the perennial backlog by not re-interviewing UNHCR referred GARs, and through temporary staff re-deployments.

That:

1. The draft Essential Principles, as amended by the Working Group on Inland Protection, be approved in principle as the present position of the CCR.
2. The Executive of the CCR be empowered to revise and amend the draft Essential Principles, taking into account feedback from the membership, insofar as such revisions and amendments are in accord with the principles and policies of the CCR.
3. The CCR publicize the Essential Principles and encourage its members to do likewise.

That the CCR call on the Canadian government to urge the re-examination of UNHCR ’s responsibility toward Palestinian refugees, suggested by the second paragraph of Article 1(d), the so-called “exclusion clause”, and include the second paragraph in their statutes as a basis for extending human rights protection and inclusivity, thus affirming the intention of the 1951 Refugee Convention.

That the CCR urge CIC and MRCI to:

1. Recognize the extent of these special needs and reflect this in the training and resourcing of federally funded settlement service providers and those funded through provincial partnerships or programs.
2. Together with other relevant federal departments, provincial counterparts and educational institutions training health care providers, to seek ways to address the training needs of health providers with respect to refugee trauma and torture and cross-cultural awareness.
3. Review the current RAP allocation model and upgrade dollars and timeframes to better support these special needs.

That the CCR:

1. Urge CIC to keep all current private sponsorship files in Turkey open until all avenues have been pursued and until such time as an agreement can be reached with the SAH representatives, and to lift the ban on new undertakings, pending a solution(s) to the exit permit issues.
2. Urge the government of Canada to continue working with the Multilateral Technical Committee to find a solution(s) to the current and future Turkish exit permit issues.
3. Urge CIC to respect the terms of the SAH agreement (Principles b and g) and work in full collaboration with elected SAH representatives in further negotiations.
4. Urge UNHCR to take proactive steps to assist in facilitating the departure from Turkey of persons accepted by the Canadian visa post.

That the CCR write to the Prime Minister of Canada demanding that Canada:

1. Make a public condemnation of torture in Iraq and Afghanistan by US and coalition forces, and ask for the US administration to:
   a) Adhere to the international legal instruments against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
   b) Train US military personnel and other enforcement official to adhere to these human rights standards.
   c) Allow outside inspection of US-controlled jails, detention centres and other facilities where persons are detained.
   d) Designate an independent ombudsperson to receive complains about torture and other human rights abuses.
2. Accede to the UN Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and encourage other countries – including and especially the USA – to do the same.

That the CCR call on the Canadian government to immediately place a moratorium on deportations to The Palestinian occupied territories, in recognition of the ongoing military occupation and the risk to the life, liberty and security of those living under it.

That the CCR:

1. Develop an anti-homophobia and anti-heterosexism policy to present to its membership for endorsement at the Fall 2004 consultation.
2. Ensure that this new policy and the existing anti-racism policy incorporate an integrated approach in implementation.

That the CCR write to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration insisting that CIC:

1. Dedicate the necessary resources to bring the iCAMS system up to modern standards, so that: a) it will support database to database transfers, and b) allow for local reports production.
2. Adjust the data collection points in consultation with the sector to bring them in line with the Accountability Framework, and to make the system’s use less burdensome for agencies.

That the CCR urge Medical Services Branch to mobilize the IFH Advisory Committee to develop solutions to: a) registration problems b) the complex claim process c) the slow reimbursement scheme d) inadequate resources for increasing special needs.