Youth

that the CCR:

1. Calls on the federal  and provincial governments to increase funding for newcomer youth services, and where applicable reverse recent funding cuts to these areas;
2. Recognizes and promotes to member organizations youth engagement and youth-led programming, including by holding regular youth-directed information sessions and workshops to identify emerging issues and appropriate responses.
3. Encourages members to respond to potentially harmful legislation and draw attention to the particular impacts on youth.

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. Continuously raise the level of awareness of the needs of immigrant and refugee youth through CCR networks and consultations;
2. Advocate for the rights of immigrant and refugee youth in Canada.

That the CCR actively promote youth participation at all levels of the organization by:

1. Having at least one youth workshop organized by youth for youth at CCR consultations;
2. Finding ways to increase/encourage youth attendance at consultations;
3. Exploring ways of linking and encouraging dialogue amongst youth that are interested in refugee and immigrant issues.

That the CCR encourage the involvement and participation of youth at every CCR consultation by designating a local youth organizing committee and furthermore that the CCR support youth participation.

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:

1. Support the development of the CCR Youth Network and increasing meaningful youth engagement and leadership within the CCR.
2. Add youth to the list of factors to be taken into account by the members of the CCR in the election of Executive Committee members.

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.