A series of measures recently introduced by the government represent a dramatic attack on the principle of refugee protection.  Canadians who care about refugees need to protest this closing of the door on refugees.

The government has been turning its back on refugees by:

• Introducing measures that deny access to 40% of claimants (visa requirements on Mexico and Czech Republic, and new broadening of the application of the Safe Third Country Agreement to nationals of moratoria countries).
• Proposing a refugee reform that would further make the refugee determination system significantly less fair and more restrictive, compromising Canada’s obligations to protect refugees.
• Talking about refugees in a way that fosters hostility towards refugee claimants and undermines public confidence in the refugee protection system.

We are moving towards a meaner, crueller Canada.

The Canadian refugee system does need improvements, but its core elements, considered a model internationally, need to be safeguarded.  Among those core elements is a commitment to treating claimants with dignity and to providing a fair process to determine whether they need protection.

Key components in a fair refugee determination system include:

• Fully independent and qualified decision-makers, working within a quasi-judicial tribunal.
• The examination of each claim on its individual merits, with no compromise of procedural guarantees based on group characteristics such as country of origin.
• An appeal on the merits.

We are calling on Canadians to stand up for refugees by publicly challenging the closing of the door on refugees and calling for policies guided by the principle of refugee protection.

For more information:
http://www.ccrweb.ca/livesinthebalance.htm
http://www.ccrweb.ca/fairdetermination.htm
Contact: Colleen French, cfrench [at] ccrweb [dot] ca

July 2009