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The CCR welcomes multi-year immigration levels, but commitment to refugees falls short
We welcome the federal government’s announcement of multi-year levels, including a gradual increase in overall immigration levels. However, the levels for refugees, particularly for Government-Assisted Refugees and for accepted refugee claimants, fall far short of what Canada can and should be doing.
“We are very disappointed to see Government-Assisted Refugee numbers remain stuck at the level of 7,500 in 2018, and only rising to 10,000 in 2020,” said Loly Rico, CCR President. “We welcome the increased numbers for Privately Sponsored Refugees, to address the backlog and to open the door for civil society to do more to respond to refugees. But Canada’s commitment to refugees must not be privatized: the government needs to take the lead by resettling more refugees than private citizens do. We are very concerned to see that the government is intending to resettle only half the number of Privately Sponsored refugees, especially as Government-Assisted Refugees are those identified by the UNHCR as the most vulnerable.”
Click here to read the complete statement online
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Refugee claimants: choosing terms
The CCR promotes the use of “refugee claimant” to describe a person who is seeking Canada’s protection at our borders, or within the country. Similarly, for the process, we prefer refugee claim process, or refugee determination process.
These are the terms traditionally used in Canada. However, in recent years, the Canadian government has started using the terms “asylum seekers” or “asylum claimants.” The CCR is opposed to this shift. These terms are not used in Canadian legislation.
Using a term that includes “refugee” helps to highlight the commonalities between refugee claimants and resettled refugees. Conversely, omitting the term “refugee” can reinforce misperceptions that refugee claimants are not refugees or are less deserving of Canada’s protection.
Click here to read the full comment
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Good news: Age of dependants for reunited families restored
Good news for separated families with young adult children: as of 24 October, children up to 21 years old can be included as family members in new applications for permanent residence.
In addition, a new federal public policy facilitates the addition of young adult children (19 - 21 years old) to applications already in process.
The Public Policy on the Age of Dependants applies to people with:
- A permanent residence application in process at any time 3 May - 23 Oct 2017; and
- A child who was 19, 20 or 21 years old
- on 3 May 2017 (if application submitted before then), or
- when the application was submitted.
Note that the Public Policy applies in cases where the parent has already been granted permanent residence, as long as it was on 3 May 2017 or later.
Deadline to add a child under the Public Policy: 31 January 2018.
For more information, including shareable resources, see: ccrweb.ca/en/age-dependants
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Join us at the Fall Consultation, Forums on trafficking and migrant workers in Niagara Falls
Join us at the Canadian Council for Refugees national Fall Consultation in Niagara Falls, 30 Nov - 2 Dec 2017.
With participants from every province, and in fields ranging from mental health to the law, this conference is a chance to hear the latest on Canada’s responses to refugees and newcomers and what we can do to improve refugee protection and newcomer settlement.
For more information and to register online, see: ccrweb.ca/meetings. Don't delay: early registration ends on Friday 10 November.
And there's more:
Forum on Migrant Worker Issues, 3 December 2017, Brock University, St. Catharines ON
Join the CCR and local organizations on 3 December at Brock University in St. Catharines for a full-day meeting for migrant workers and people working with or advocating for the rights of migrant workers.
More information at: ccrweb.ca/en/forum-migrant-worker-issues
National Forum on Human Trafficking, 3 December 2017, Brock University, St. Catharines ON
Join a full-day meeting on all forms of human trafficking. This annual event brings together service providers, NGOs, anti-trafficking, social justice and migrant rights advocates, as well as lawyers, government representatives and others.
For details: ccrweb.ca/en/national-forum-human-trafficking-2017
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New resource - Ethical Considerations: Research with people in situations of forced migration
The CCR participated in a project to develop ethical guidelines for research with people in situations of forced migration.
The guidelines include a checklist for organizations who are approached by researchers, to help evaluate whether the research will be conducted ethically, and taking into consideration the particular vulnerabilities of people who have been forcibly displaced.
Click here to access the guidelines
