14 November 2006 - Members of the media are invited to a national consultation on refugee and immigration issues taking place in Montreal, Quebec from 23-25 November 2006.  The theme of the Consultation is “Taking the Lead: Refugee and Immigrant Youth”. Many of the Consultation sessions will focus on issues affecting refugee and immigrant youth, a priority issue for the CCR and its members, as well as other current issues facing refugees and immigrants.
 
Workshops will include:

• Border Stories: Refugee youth searching for a future
• Trafficked persons and the immigration program
• The impact of the ‘war on terrorism’ on refugees and immigrants
• HIV/AIDS and refugee claims
• Refugee Detention: A regional perspective from Montreal

… and many more
 
The CCR Consultation will bring together leaders in the promotion of refugee and immigrant rights from across Canada and this is a unique opportunity to meet them.  Participants, both national and local, will include senior representatives of refugee and immigrant-serving organizations, representatives of faith-based organizations, policy-makers, academics, lawyers, youth activists and refugees. 
 
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration has voted to attend the Consultation as a group.  The Thursday evening plenary session will be an opportunity for Consultation participants and CCR members to enter into dialogue with the immigration critics of the Bloc Québécois, the Liberal Party and the New Democratic Party..
 
Most of the Consultation sessions are open to the media and we encourage media representatives to contact us beforehand to discuss what you would like to cover, and to please check in at the CCR registration desk on site.  Opportunities will be available to interview participants.
 
When: 23-25 November, CCR Fall Consultation 2006 “Taking the Lead: Refugee and Immigrant Youth”
Location: Hyatt Regency Hotel, 1255 rue Jeanne-Mance, Montreal
Consultation program and other details: Available on the CCR website at www.ccrweb.ca/meetings.htm
Contact: Colleen French, Communications and Networking Co-ordinator, tel. (514) 277-7223 ext. 1