Education

That the CCR urge the Government of Canada, through consultations with other donor countries and international agencies, to develop a fund to provide educational opportunities, at the tertiary level, to Sudanese refugees in Kenya, Uganda and elsewhere in Africa.

That the CCR:

1. Adopt the policy that education is a right of all minors regardless of immigration status;
2. Write to appropriate Provincial Ministers of Education urging that they adopt the above policy, and, for those provinces where this is already required by law, urging that they comply with their own legislation;
3. Write to CIC urging that in the interim letters of no objection be issued to the children of refugee claimants without delay prior to determination of eligibility.

That the CCR:

1. Write to the minister of Human Resources Development Canada urging him to amend the Canada Student Loans Act to include Convention Refugees in their eligibility criteria;
2. Urge its members to raise this issue with their local Members of Parliament;
3. Encourage provincial governments to:

   a) advocate this change with the Federal government;

   b) make the same change in their provincial legislation.

That the CCR:

1. Urge the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration to amend section 30(2) omitting the exception.
2. Contact all the provincial Ministers of Education and urge them to ensure that all minor children are admitted to schools in Canada free of charge without regard to their immigration status.
3. Work with local groups such as the Education Rights Task Force in Ontario to develop strategies to ensure that all minor children have free access to education everywhere in Canada regardless of their immigration status.

That the CCR call on the Governments of Canada and the Provinces to permit children of refugee claimants, failed refugee claimants and children who are themselves refugee claimants or failed refugee claimants awaiting decisions on applications to CIC and who are not removable, to attend Canadian schools and post secondary educational institutions at the same fees and requirements as Canadian residents.

That the CCR advocate on behalf of the Atlantic Region for the required resources to support the educational needs of newcomer youth.

That the CCR advocate for:

1. An education policy/strategy to address the gaps for refugee children and youth;

• A compulsory course in cross-cultural education for teachers in consultation with the CCR and service providers;
• Adequate funding for educating children and youth who have interrupted schooling.

That the CCR promote the expansion of core curriculum strategies and resources for the entire student population to address the lived experiences and continuing realities of immigrants and refugees in our modern multicultural Canadian society through collaborative engagement between provincial ministries of education, settlement agencies and other relevant partners and stakeholders.