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Working Group Terms of Reference

The Working Groups provide a forum to exchange information, network and develop policy positions in the area of:

Overseas Protection and Resettlement

  • the protection needs of refugees and other forcibly displaced people around the world;
  • the resettlement of refugees to Canada and internationally;
  • the needs and challenges experienced by refugees prior to resettlement to Canada (whether resettled through government programs or private sponsorship);
  • the needs and challenges experienced by resettled refugees in Canada during the period of the sponsorship undertaking, in collaboration with the I&S working group;
  • the needs and challenges experienced by private sponsors.

Inland Protection

The protection of refugee claimants in Canada at all stages of the refugee process, including:

  • access to asylum in Canada
  • in-Canada refugee determination
  • post-claim recourses
  • family reunification
  • detention
  • removals
  • the regularization of persons with precarious status in Canada.

Immigration and Settlement

All issues related to the settlement and integration of refugees, immigrants and other migrants in Canada, including:

  • provision of settlement services;
  • broader social justice context related to newcomers in Canada, for example: systemic racism, racialization of poverty, employment and income security, housing and homelessness, health, family reunification, and equitable access to services and basic entitlements.

The Working Groups will collaborate with each other when issues affect more than one Working Group, and will respect the leadership of another Working Group on issues that fall primarily within that Working Group’s mandate.

Working Group Activities

Each working group is responsible for:

  1. Following,  analyzing and advising the Executive on policy on issues of concern to the Working Group;
  2. Encouraging members to reach out to the general public and support local and national advocacy to create positive perceptions of and attitudes towards refugees and vulnerable migrants;
  3. Providing members with information and resources relevant to their work on issues of concern to the Working Group;
  4. Encouraging ongoing involvement of all CCR members in WG activities and issues;
  5. Encouraging learning and cohesion within the WG through collaboration and sharing of lessons learned;
  6. Ensuring that the Working Group’s priorities and concerns are appropriately reflected in the CCR’s activities and positions;
  7. Organizing three workshops and one caucus at each CCR consultation and one anti-oppression workshop a year and collaborating with other Working Groups on joint workshops;
  8. Reviewing and approving proposed resolutions on issues related to the Working Group for consideration by the CCR membership;
  9. Recommending actions for CCR and CCR members on issues related to the Working Group;
  10. Identifying issues of mutual concern between WGs and addressing them through information exchange, dialogue, and joint planning where appropriate.