CCR Resolutions Database

Date
Filter by year and month (in format YYYY-MM)

  • Moratorium on removals to the Occupied Territories

    Res.: 18
    Whereas:
    1. The current military occupation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip violates a plethora of international human rights conventions which Canada has ratified.
    2. Palestinians living under military occupation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip are facing a humanitarian disaster.
    Therefore be it resolved:

    That the CCR call on the Canadian government to immediately place a moratorium on deportations to The Palestinian occupied territories, in recognition of the ongoing military occupation and the risk to the life, liberty and security of those living under it.

  • Anti-homophobia and anti-heterosexism policy

    Res.: 1
    Whereas:
    1. CCR passed Resolution 19,Dec. 2000 on combating homophobia and heterosexism and Resolution 4, May1998 on the need to develop internal policies that affirm the rights of individuals.
    2. CCR should lead by example in combating homophobia and heterosexism in the CCR membership and the immigrant and refugee serving communities.
    Therefore be it resolved:

    That the CCR:

    1. Develop an anti-homophobia and anti-heterosexism policy to present to its membership for endorsement at the Fall 2004 consultation.
    2. Ensure that this new policy and the existing anti-racism policy incorporate an integrated approach in implementation.

  • Improving ICAMS

    Res.: 6
    Whereas:

    The iCAMS system has been implemented across the country, and has proven to be a major burden to agencies, and cannot produce accurate and useful reports for either agencies or CIC.

    Therefore be it resolved:

    That the CCR write to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration insisting that CIC:

    1. Dedicate the necessary resources to bring the iCAMS system up to modern standards, so that: a) it will support database to database transfers, and b) allow for local reports production.
    2. Adjust the data collection points in consultation with the sector to bring them in line with the Accountability Framework, and to make the system’s use less burdensome for agencies.

  • Interim Federal Health issues

    Res.: 11
    Whereas:
    1. The problems with the IFH program have been mounting.
    2. The IFH Advisory Committee has become inactive.
    Therefore be it resolved:

    That the CCR urge Medical Services Branch to mobilize the IFH Advisory Committee to develop solutions to: a) registration problems b) the complex claim process c) the slow reimbursement scheme d) inadequate resources for increasing special needs.

  • Countries with no functioning government

    Res.: 16
    Whereas:
    1. The Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations state that the Minister can suspend removals to a country or place where there is a situation of generalized risk.
    2. Where there is no functioning government, civilians are at generalized risk.
    Therefore be it resolved:

    That the CCR call on the Canadian government to add countries that are without a functioning government, like Somalia, to the list of countries to which Canada has temporarily suspended removals.

  • Palestinian refugee claims before the IRB and PRRA

    Res.: 21
    Whereas:
    1. There is demonstrable confusion within IRB and PRRA regarding the status of stateless Palestinian refugees, and the conditions they have fled.
    2. This lack of understanding has led to inconsistent and ill-informed decision-making.
    Therefore be it resolved:

    That CCR, together with other organizations and coalitions working for the rights of Palestinian refugees, raise with the IRB and with PRRA officials the need for better and more consistent information regarding the legal status of Palestinian refugees and the rights violations they face.

  • Access to counsel for immigration detainees

    Res.: 15
    Whereas:

    The increasing use of detention by CIC in provincial jails has resulted in the transfer of immigration detainees to remote areas, where they are effectively denied the right to counsel and cannot even contact counsel due to the requirement to communicate via collect calls from these jails;

    Therefore be it resolved:

    That CCR call upon the federal and provincial governments to establish procedures to ensure effective access to counsel for all immigration detainees, including free telephone access and face to face communication with counsel.

  • Trafficking in women and children - urgent protection

    Res.: 20
    Whereas:
    1. The CCR passed Resolution 24 in December 2001 and subsequently has held regional workshops and a national conference to explore the issues domestically;
    2. The Conference identified urgent protection for trafficked women and children as a key priority;
    Therefore be it resolved:

    That the CCR:

    1. Request CIC to develop an immediate protection mechanism leading to permanent residence in Canada to protect trafficked women and children and that the necessary resources and support structures be put in place to sustain the program.
    2. Urge that the Urgent Protection Program be expanded to include trafficked persons and that their immediate family grouping be kept intact since family members left behind may be at risk.

  • Protection of Canadian citizens overseas

    Res.: 25
    Whereas:
    1. There is disturbing news of attacks against the fundamental rights of Canadian citizens overseas;
    2. Canadian citizens overseas have experienced severe torture (the cases of Mr Arar and Mr Sampson) and even death under torture (the case of Ms Zahra Kazemi);
    3. The US authorities have returned a naturalized Canadian citizen to his country of origin where he was interrogated and tortured;
    4. There are shocking reports about inadequate support from the Canadian government to Canadians detained overseas and even, in the case of Arar, indications of collaboration between the RCMP and CSIS on the one hand and the US and Syrian authorities on the other;
    5. Visible minorities and Canadian citizens with refugee backgrounds are the main victims of such abhorrent practices;
    6. Survivors have demanded a full public inquiry into their tragic experiences;
    Therefore be it resolved:

    That the CCR:

    1. Ask the Government of Canada to accept requests from survivors or the families of victims for a full independent public inquiry into their cases and the conditions surrounding their arrest, removal to torture and the role of the Canadian officials.
    2. Urge the US government to make a similar public inquiry into the cases of Canadian citizens returned to torture.
    3. Request that the Canadian public inquiry have the utmost transparency with the aim of shedding light on the role of Canadian officials in protecting Canadian citizens and verifying the methods of torture used against our fellow-citizens overseas and on the role of other governments in subjecting Canadians to torture or other cruel and unusual treatment.
    4. Promote Canada's working towards the non-derogable right of every human person not to be sent to torture.
    5. Urge that, even in extreme cases of security suspicion, Canadian citizens overseas be returned to Canada for further investigation and possible prosecution rather than sent to torture.
    6. Appeal to the Canadian government to play an effective role in rehabilitation, redress and compensation in the cases of Canadian citizens who have been tortured overseas.
    7. Petition the Government of Canada to take all necessary steps to maintain Canadian global leadership in the exposure, prevention and eradication of torture and the need for its absolute prohibition.
    8. Ask the Government of Canada to take immediate diplomatic, economic and political action against governments that have tortured and will torture Canadian citizens or send them to torture.
    9. Solicit the Government of Canada to use regional and intergovernmental agencies, where possible, such as the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the UN Committee Against Torture and the UN Committee on Human Rights to object to the treatment of Canadian citizens overseas.
    10. Encourage the Canadian Government to take immediate action to intervene in the cases of all Canadians who are languishing in overseas jails and are subjected to torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment.

  • Children and access to education

    Res.: 30
    Whereas:
    1. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has noted with concern in its recent report on Canada that children are being excluded from schools in Canada because of their lack of immigration status;
    2. It is the policy of the CCR that all minor children residing in Canada have the right to attend school regardless of their immigration status;
    3. Education of children is a matter of the exclusive jurisdiction of the provincial governments under the Canadian constitution;
    4. The exception set out in section 30(2) of IRPA has the effect, due to its ambiguity, of excluding from school many children who are not visitors;
    Therefore be it resolved:

    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.

  • Threat of open tendering

    Res.: 3
    Whereas:
    1. The province of BC is preparing a system of 'Open Tendering' for settlement services, potentially contracting private sector interests to deliver core settlement services to immigrants for profit.
    2. CIC has intentionally developed an internationally unique infrastructure of community-based immigrant settlement organizations across all provinces and territories;
    Therefore be it resolved:

    That the CCR express to CIC-NHQ (Integration), CIC BC Region and the BC Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services concerns about the threat posed to service quality, accessibility, professionalism and community connectedness by 'Open tendering' and the potential transfer of settlement services away from the current network of community-based agencies.

  • Settlement funding allocation

    Res.: 8
    Whereas:
    1. The need for language training increases in communities affected by secondary migration;
    2. The new funding allocation model does not address the immediate training needs of newcomers now living in affected communities;
    3. These communities have long waiting lists for LINC classes;
    Therefore be it resolved:

    That the CCR urge CIC to:

    1. Increase the overall amount of money available for immigrant services.
    2. Include a consideration of secondary migration in the calculation of the funding allocation formula.

  • Ministerial relief

    Res.: 13
    Whereas:
    1. A significant number of refugees applying for private sponsorship are found to be inadmissible pursuant to s. 34(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act;
    2. These refugees are entitled to request Ministerial Relief, and an exemption from inadmissibility, pursuant to s. 34(2) of IRPA, on the grounds that it would not be detrimental to Canada's national interest to admit them to Canada;
    3. The CIC policy manuals advise visa officers to consider Ministerial Relief only in cases where it is specifically requested by refugees;
    Therefore be it resolved:

    That the CCR:

    1. Urge the Canadian Government to require that visa officers advise refugees and other applicants for permanent residence of the option to apply for Ministerial Relief pursuant to s. 34(2) of IRPA in cases where they are considering rejection of their case pursuant to s. 34(1).
    2. Write to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration about the significance of Ministerial Relief and ask the Minister to act more generously in issuing Ministerial Relief.

  • Statelessness statistics

    Res.: 18
    Whereas:
    1. IRPA is silent on the issue of statelessness which increases the vulnerability of stateless people;
    2. Current data collection systems of the government are inconsistent and ad hoc on statistics relating to statelessness;
    Therefore be it resolved:

    That the CCR request that CIC and the IRB review their data management and reporting systems to ensure the accurate and timely collection and reporting of statistics relating to statelessness, in particular:

    • refugee status determination hearings when statelessness was a factor (numbers, country of residence)
    • H&C applications of stateless cases (numbers accepted, numbers rejected, countries of habitual residence)
    • detention of stateless persons (length of detention, reason for detention, country of habitual residence, place of detention, age, gender)
    • removals of stateless persons (including country of habitual residence, age, gender, country removed to).
    • resettlement of stateless persons.

  • Guidelines for conduct of hearings

    Res.: 23
    Whereas:
    1. The IRB has implemented new guidelines related to the conduct of hearings;
    2. Many of the provisions contained in these guidelines will result in a denial of refugee claimants' right to be heard and right to counsel;
    3. The IRB has implemented these guidelines in a clear attempt to increase the efficiency of the Board without consideration of the negative impact these guidelines will have on claimants' ability to get a fair hearing;
    4. The CCR has previously passed a resolution (15, Nov. 1998) on video-conferencing of refugee hearings;
    Therefore be it resolved:

    That the CCR call upon the IRB to:

    1. Withdraw the requirement that the Refugee Protection Officer or Member examine a claimant prior to the claimant's counsel.
    2. Withdraw the ability of the IRB to schedule hearings without regard to counsel's calendars.
    3. Direct Members not to impose a video-conferencing hearing on a claimant in the face of a claimant's objection.
    4. Amend the guidelines to delete the direction to Board members to restrict the length and content of a claimant’s counsel’s submissions.
    5. Add clear guidelines on the treatment of vulnerable claimants in the Guidelines on the Conduct of Hearings.

  • Family reunification for children with protected person status

    Res.: 28
    Whereas:
    1. The reunification of families continues to be a serious problem for refugees in Canada;
    2. No financial support requirement need be satisfied in the resettlement of protected persons;
    3. Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, children who are granted "protected person" status in Canada are not permitted to include their parents and siblings, either abroad or in Canada, in their applications to be landed as "protected persons";
    Therefore be it resolved:

    That the CCR call upon the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration to amend the Regulations [R. 1(3)] so that "family member" of a "protected person" includes the parent and siblings of a "protected person" who is a minor.

  • Relations with First Nations communities

    Res.: 1
    Whereas:
    1. The immigrant and refugee sector has made little attempt to create meaningful linkages with Canada's First Nation communities.
    2. Non-aboriginal Canadians (including immigrants and refugees) have been beneficiaries of Canada's policies that have discriminated against Aboriginal communities;
    Therefore be it resolved:

    That the CCR call on its members to sensitize themselves on the issues facing First Nations communities and explore ways of having meaningful dialogue with these communities.

  • Social Insurance Numbers

    Res.: 6
    Whereas:
    1. Homeless immigrants and refugees are a vulnerable population;
    2. HRDC will not issue Social Insurance Numbers without immigration documents and CIC will not issue permanent residence cards without a Social Insurance Number.
    3. Immigrants cannot travel without a permanent resident card after December 31, 2003.
    Therefore be it resolved:

    That the CCR:

    1. Urge HRDC to set up a process to work with homeless and other vulnerable immigrants to obtain Social Insurance Numbers.
    2. Urge CIC to extend the deadline for permanent resident cards until December 2004.

  • Dadaab and Kakuma

    Res.: 11
    Whereas:
    1. There are more than 120,000 refugees in the Dadaab camps and 86,000 in Kakuma refugee camp from several different African countries who have been resident there for up to 14 years;
    2. Peace processes are underway in the region, which have potential implications to refugees such as possible reduction of services and closure of camps;
    Therefore be it resolved:

    That the CCR:

    1. Urge the UNHCR to ensure that conducive conditions exist before beginning any voluntary repatriation of refugees from the camps.
    2. Urge the UNHCR to continue to promote resettlement as a durable solution for these refugees.
    3. Encourage the Canadian government to continue to actively assist the UNHCR in promoting resettlement as a durable solution for these vulnerable populations;
    4. Encourage the Canadian government to increase funding to the UNHCR and WFP programs and services in the camps.

  • Detention on grounds of ID

    Res.: 16
    Whereas:
    1. Many refugee claimants lack identity documents upon arrival;
    2. International standards stipulate that people must not be penalized for lack of ID;
    3. International guidelines on detention stipulate that undocumented refugee claimants should not normally be detained;
    Therefore be it resolved:

    That the CCR call on the government of Canada (CIC and IRB) to adhere to international standards with respect to detention of refugee claimants, and to ensure that refugee claimants not be detained for more time than is required to conduct initial enquiries as to the person's identity. Ascertaining a person's identity should not be dependent on an ability to produce an identity document.

  • Work permits

    Res.: 21
    Whereas:
    1. Most refugee claimants have no financial source other than their own work. They arrive in Canada with no money and have no family or friends in Canada to assist them financially. They are consequently highly vulnerable and desperate;
    2. Refugee claimants cannot receive a work permit without first being medically cleared. It takes a minimum of 2 months from the time a doctor sends the medical results to CIC to the time that CIC actually enters the medical results in the CIC computer system;
    3. Once the medical results are entered into the CIC system and a work permit application is filed with CPC-Vegreville it takes another 2 to 3 months before Vegreville issues the work permit;
    4. Until a work permit is issued, refugee claimants are ineligible for Social Insurance Numbers which, in turn, prevents them from accessing other community services;
    Therefore be it resolved:

    That the CCR:

    1. Write to CIC to request that CPC-Vegreville be instructed to give the processing of refugee claimants' work permits a priority in order to avoid an extended period of undue hardship and vulnerability; and that the work permits issued be for a minimum of one year.
    2. Write to CIC to request an increase in resources to CPC-Vegreville and to medical services to allow for priority processing of work permit applications.
    3. Send copies of these letters to the relevant provincial authorities.
    4. Request that CPC-Vegreville be instructed to stop the practice of setting an arbitrary date for leaving Canada under the Conditions of Issue.

  • DNA and evidence of parent-child relationship

    Res.: 26
    Whereas:

    The definition of "dependent child" in IRPA, restricting "dependent child" to "biological" or "adopted child" may result in greater recourse to DNA testing, which is intrusive and possibly harmful to the best interest of children;

    Therefore be it resolved:

    That the CCR call upon the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration to develop guidelines for immigration and visa officers to accept uncontradicted affidavit evidence by parents and third parties as evidence of relationship in the absence of birth certificates, before requesting DNA testing.

  • Continued work on trafficking

    Res.: 4
    Whereas:
    1. CCR passed Resolution 24 in December 2001 and subsequently has held regional workshops and a national conference to explore the issues domestically.
    2. The Conference identified data collection, education and awareness-raising as key priorities.
    Therefore be it resolved:

    That the CCR:

    1. Urge Canadian Heritage/Status of Women Canada to support the implementation and the recommendations from the National Conference on Trafficked Women and Children.
    2. Urge to the Federal Inter-Departmental Working Group to include CCR in the discussions on trafficked persons.

  • Work permits

    Res.: 9
    Whereas:
    1. Canada issued over 87,000 temporary work permits last year;
    2. People living on temporary work permits are often in precarious and unstable situations;
    3. Many people living on work permits will eventually become landed in Canada;
    4. People living on temporary work permits are all contributing community members and paying taxes;
    Therefore be it resolved:

    That the CCR:

    1. Urge CIC to expand eligibility to settlement services to those living on work permits.
    2. Undertake to examine the issues of, needs of and work being done with people living on temporary work permits.

  • Refugee resettlement targets

    Res.: 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.