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Immigration and Settlement

Implementation of the national settlement service standards framework

Resolution number
15
Whereas
  1. A National Settlement Service Standards (NSSS) Framework was developed by the CCR through a National Consultation process that involved a broad range of individuals and agencies providing settlement services to immigrants, refugees and refugee claimants;
  2. The CCR adopted in principle the NSSS framework as presented by the Working Group on Settlement in June 2000 (Res. 1, Jun. 00);
  3. The National Settlement Service Standards Steering Committee was asked to develop a plan to implement this framework across Canada;
Therefore be it resolved

That the CCR seek funding to enable the National Settlement Services Standards Steering Committee to complete the following tasks:

  1. Develop tools to assist workers and agencies in adopting and using the NSSS framework;
  2. Research and develop a peer review support model for agencies using the NSSS framework;
  3. Explore the concept of a national registry of settlement agencies having successfully completed a peer review process.
Working Group
Immigration and Settlement
Subject
Settlement services

Cashflow

Resolution number
6
Whereas
  1. Immigrant serving agencies require operational funds to deliver services to newcomers as per the terms of contribution agreements of CIC;
  2. There has been an ongoing problem with service provider organizations having insufficient cashflow to deliver continuous services to newcomers due to delays in the approval of new contribution agreements;
Therefore be it resolved

That the CCR call on CIC to be accountable to the service providers and newcomers by implementing timely application and approval target dates to ensure that new contribution agreements are signed and new year advances are released before existing contribution agreements end.

 
Working Group
Immigration and Settlement
Subject
Settlement services

Metropolis research program

Resolution number
5
Whereas
  1. CCR brings together NGOs active and involved in the 4 Metropolis Centres of Excellence (Vancouver, Prairies, Toronto, Montreal and soon the Atlantic);
  2. Metropolis (Canada) is proposing a national research program aimed at developing immigration policies and programs for the coming 6 years;
  3. The proposed research priorities question the role of community organizations serving refugees and immigrants and will affect the areas of activity of NGOs;
  4. Metropolis relies on the support and participation of NGOs in the processes; of consultation, adoption and implementation of a national research program;
  5. The current Metropolis proposal deals mainly with immigration as an economic and competitive issue  and gives undue priority to public security and criminality aspects of immigration;
  6. The Metropolis proposal marginalizes the role and responsibility of the  host society in settling newcomers and fails to take into account the reception and settlement of refugees;
Therefore be it resolved

That the CCR:

  1. Call on Metropolis Canada to amend their proposal to take account of a broader concept of settlement and integration of refugees and immigrants and include priorities concerning protection issues;
  2. Establish an ad hoc task group to develop a common NGO position in response to the Metropolis proposal, notably on the terms of participation in Metropolis bodies and activities and reiterate our call to provide a mechanism and resources to facilitate the participation of community organizations serving immigrants and refugees.
Working Group
Immigration and Settlement
Subject
Research

Settlement sector working conditions

Resolution number
4
Whereas
  1. The CCR in June 1994 called on CIC to fund agencies at levels to provide for adequate working conditions;
  2. Staff working in CIC funded programs, including in provinces that have signed agreements, are skilled professionals;
  3. There is wide variation in funding levels for salaries, none of which adequately compensate staff for the work which they are doing;
  4. Many workers have no benefits, no pension plans, no prep time for teachers and in general sub-standard working conditions;
  5. Some contracts do not even allow for sick days;
Therefore be it resolved

That the CCR:

  1. Call on CIC to do a survey of working conditions in the sector and act to improve funding levels to allow agencies to provide reasonable working conditions;
  2. Investigate disparities in salary contributions in agreements with, inter alia, HRDC and Health Canada, with the objective of making a human rights complaint on discrimination in contracting.
Working Group
Immigration and Settlement
Subject
Settlement services

Delays

Resolution number
3
Whereas

delays cause anxiety and instability for refugees and their families;

Therefore be it resolved

That the CCR contact the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and urge that CIC be resourced to supply sufficient support staff to provide for expeditious processing of family reunification, private sponsorships and other matters that require avoidance of delays and backlogs which cause pain and anxiety to refugees.

 
Working Group
Immigration and Settlement
Subject
Family reunification
Overseas processing
Private sponsorship

Access to benefits for persons on minister’s permits

Resolution number
2
Whereas
  1. Minister’s Permits have been issued for compassionate and humanitarian reasons to allow for urgent admission of individuals and families in dire circumstances;
  2. Minister’s Permits have been issued to persons in Canada who are inadmissible on medical grounds;
  3. The recipients of Minister’s Permits are not eligible for benefits available to resettled refugees and persons with permanent resident status (such as travel loans and health care);
Therefore be it resolved

That the CCR contact the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and request that families and individuals granted Minister ’s Permits for permanent admission to Canada be given equivalent benefits to resettled refugees and permanent residents.

 
Working Group
Immigration and Settlement

Accountability framework

Resolution number
1
Whereas

The CCR reaffirms Resolution 3 from November 1992 and Resolution16 from December 2000,

Therefore be it resolved

That the CCR:

  1. Verify with the Privacy Commissioner and the Canadian Human Rights Commission and seek independent legal advice on the ethics of:  (i) agencies releasing client information without explicit, voluntary, informed client consent.  (ii) having newcomers sign blanket release of information forms upon arrival, raising significant issues of informed, voluntary consent and raising issues of how agencies will be able to know which clients may have refused release of information;
  2. Request that CIC do a cost-benefit analysis of moving from aggregate data collection to individual data collection;
  3. Urge CIC to heed the suggestions in the Kathleen Stevenson report;
  4. Urge CIC to enter into a discussion with the sector about the desired outcomes of settlement services and base the performance measurement and program evaluation framework on these outcomes.
Working Group
Immigration and Settlement
Subject
Settlement services

Newcomers and housing

Resolution number
8
Whereas

The National Housing and Homelessness Network is working to raise awareness of discrimination and human rights violations confronting newcomers and all Canadians seeking quality and affordable housing;

Therefore be it resolved

That the CCR join the National Housing and Homelessness Network and the Urban Core Support Network to persuade federal, provincial and territorial governments to support the one percent solution which will create quality and affordable housing for all Canadians and that specific amounts of all new funding be identified for housing for newcomers.

Working Group
Immigration and Settlement

National population strategy

Resolution number
7
Whereas
  1. The Auditor General of Canada in his report of April 1998 devoted an entire chapter (Chapter 6) to the demographic challenges facing Canada, saying “We are living longer and we are having fewer children. These are indisputable facts;”
  2. The Auditor General has pointed to the “significant impact” of these demographic trends, particularly on the economy and on the long-term financial condition of the government.
  3. The Auditor General has drawn attention to the inadequacy of the information provided by the Government to Parliament and the public about the implications of current demographic trends and their potential impact;
  4. The Government of Canada appears to have taken no overt action to respond to the recommendations of the Auditor General in these matters;
Therefore be it resolved

That the CCR call on the Government of Canada to:

  1. Tell the people of Canada about the potential impacts that demographics can have, as detailed in, and as recommended by the 1998 report of the Auditor General;
  2. Devise a long-term strategy for increasing immigration as a response to the demographic challenges described by the Auditor General.
Working Group
Immigration and Settlement

Post-Durban

Resolution number
6
Whereas

The CCR participated in the Durban World Conference against Racism (WCAR);

Therefore be it resolved

That the CCR:

  1. Call on the government of Canada to advocate for a Durban plus 5 Conference and monitor the progress that has been made since WCAR;
  2. Bring forward refugee and immigrant concerns to any shadow report prepared on Canada for the Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) on the progress since WCAR;
  3. Continue to promote the involvement of youth and aboriginal people in CCR anti-racism work;
  4. Continue membership in the National Anti-Racism Coalition (NARC), including serving on the steering committee.
Working Group
Immigration and Settlement
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