Resolution number
7
Whereas
- The government of Canada has historically had a commitment to the resettlement of refugees from abroad and indeed this commitment is incorporated in the Immigration Act;
- The government of Canada has a humanitarian obligation to refugees;
- Government assistance has always been the primary program for resettlement;
- Private sponsorship is a complementary program to government assistance and has always been understood by the voluntary sector to be an opportunity to respond to refugees above and beyond the government's commitment;
- Refugee concerns have been separated from immigration concerns in the ten-year framework;
- The formation of the "NGO-government Committee on Private Sponsorship" could result in a shift in government practice away from Canada's commitment to the admission of refugees;
Therefore be it resolved
That the CCR call upon the Canadian government to honour and respect their commitment to the humanitarian resettlement of refugees from abroad, independent of the voluntary sector response.
Working Group
Overseas Protection and Resettlement