New campaign to promote welcoming attitudes towards refugees
The CCR and other partners are embarking on a campaign in the next year to promote welcoming attitudes towards refugees and to create a swell of public support so that the federal government makes commitments to:
Introduce special measures to process the privately sponsored refugee (PSR) backlog by 2018, to open the door to increased refugee sponsorships by Canadians.
Make reforms to the refugee determination system so that it is fair and efficient
Take Action: Call for increased levels for refugees
In the next few weeks, the federal government will make crucial decisions about immigration levels for 2018. These decisions will affect how many refugees can find a permanent home in Canada.
If you support Canada opening the door to refugees, now is the time to write to your Member of Parliament, copying the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (Minister@cic.gc.ca), and to submit comments to the Prime Minister, asking the Government of Canada, in setting the immigration levels, to:
Increase Government-Assisted Refugee numbers to 20,000 per year;
Ensure the numbers for privately sponsored refugees are sufficient to clear the backlog of cases by the end of 2018;
Ensure the levels for “Protected Persons in Canada and Dependants Abroad” are high enough so that the increased numbers of refugee claimants can be quickly landed and reunited with family, if their claim is accepted.
How Canada must respond to refugee claimants crossing the Canada-US border
The CCR welcomes the constructive response from all levels of government to people currently making refugee claims at the border, particularly in Quebec. Although numbers arriving in Canada remain small compared to many other countries, the situation gives Canada an opportunity to show leadership once again in responding to refugees. Canadians can be proud of the efforts taken to ensure that the people seeking safety among us are treated with dignity and that their basic needs are met.
Click here to read our recommendations to improve Canada's response to refugee claimants at the border.
UN Global Compact on Refugees and Global Compact for Migration: Our priorities
In 2016, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants,a set of commitments to enhance the protection of refugees and migrants.
The UN Compact on Refugees aims to improve the way in which the international community responds to large movements of refugees and migrants, as well as to protracted refugee situations.
The UN Compact on Migration aims to improve the governance on migration, to address the challenges associated with today’s migration, and to strengthen the contribution of migrants and migration to sustainable development.
Click here to read the CCR's priorities with respect to these high-level international negotiations.
Ways to support: International Refugee Rights Conference, Toronto, 7-9 June 2018
In June 2018, the Canadian Council for Refugees will be hosting an international conference in Toronto designed to enhance effectiveness in promoting the human rights of refugees and vulnerable migrants.
Are you or an organization you are involved with able to offer financial support for the International Refugee Rights Conference? We are looking for funding for the organization of this conference and the participation of keynote speakers and NGO representatives from the Global South.
By joining the CCR, your organization will become part of a vibrant and dynamic national network of over 170 organizations committed to refugee and migrant rights and the integration of newcomers.
