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Private sponsorship

Resettlement statistics

Resolution number
8
Whereas
  1. In Canada, CIC has engaged a process of revitalizing the private sponsorship of refugees program;
  2. CIC has consistently informed Sponsorship Agreement Holders that there are limited resources for processing applications overseas;
  3. Currently there are applications for over 10,000 individuals and only 2,900 will be processed in this year;
  4. CIC has also given the message that the backlog of private sponsorship applications are due to a high number of cases which do not fit eligibility criteria;
Therefore be it resolved

That the CCR write to the Director General of the International Region to request a statistical breakdown for the years 2000, 2001 and 2002 and annually thereafter of total private sponsorship undertakings submitted by post by year and total private sponsorship undertakings refused by post by year, and to separate applications and refusals by Groups of Five and Sponsorship Agreement Holder undertakings in order to better understand and address the causes of this backlog.

 
Working Group
Overseas Protection and Resettlement
Subject
Private sponsorship

Refugee resettlement targets

Resolution number
14
Whereas
  1. CCR is celebrating 25 years of private sponsorship in Canada;
  2. Canada's resettlement targets, including for private sponsorship, have largely remained unchanged for the past 10 years, even though overall immigration targets have increased;
  3. An increase in overall resettlement targets reflects a commitment to refugee resettlement and may lead to an increase in resource allocation to resettlement processing.
  4. CCR has consistently maintained the three principles of private sponsorship; partnership, additionality and naming;
Therefore be it resolved

That the CCR:

  1. Urge the Canadian Government to set resettlement targets at a minimum of 8% of overall immigration targets, while respecting the private sponsorship principle of additionality;
  2. Work together with the SAH representatives to the NGO-Government Committee on the Private Sponsorship of Refugees to negotiate annual private sponsorship targets with CIC.
Working Group
Overseas Protection and Resettlement
Subject
Private sponsorship
Levels

CIC’s reaction to the Turkish government’s exit permit requirement for privately sponsored refugees

Resolution number
8
Whereas
  1. There have been long-standing difficulties in obtaining exit permits from Turkey for privately sponsored refugees.
  2. CIC has decided unilaterally to close all current private sponsorship files, including cases which have already been accepted by the visa post to come to Canada.
  3. The Sponsorship Agreement states that the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program “is a symbiotic partnership between SAHs and CIC wherein each relies on the other to fulfill their responsibilities in order for the program to succeed” and “the partnership … provides a framework where SAHs may collaborate with CIC to respond to special measures … and emergency situations” (Principles b and g).
Therefore be it resolved

That the CCR:

  1. Urge CIC to keep all current private sponsorship files in Turkey open until all avenues have been pursued and until such time as an agreement can be reached with the SAH representatives, and to lift the ban on new undertakings, pending a solution(s) to the exit permit issues.
  2. Urge the government of Canada to continue working with the Multilateral Technical Committee to find a solution(s) to the current and future Turkish exit permit issues.
  3. Urge CIC to respect the terms of the SAH agreement (Principles b and g) and work in full collaboration with elected SAH representatives in further negotiations.
  4. Urge UNHCR to take proactive steps to assist in facilitating the departure from Turkey of persons accepted by the Canadian visa post.
Working Group
Overseas Protection and Resettlement
Subject
Private sponsorship
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