CCR Resolutions Database

That the CCR: 

1. Urge the Federal Immigration Department to consider the removal of any eligibility criteria to be asked at the point of entry or inland offices at a time when claimants are seeking asylum;
2. Request that the question of ability to pay for medical costs be removed and that health services be made available unconditionally to all claimants regardless of ability to pay;
3. Urge the Department of Citizenship and Immigration to remove the mandatory condition that claimants sign the declaration of eligibility.

That the CCR:

1. Condemn the imposition of cost recovery fees for landing application from all Convention refugees and their dependants;
2. Request that the government amend the regulations to eliminate these processing fees; or in the alternative, that the government accept and process landing applications from all Convention refugees and their dependants when they are received and defer the payment of processing fees until the point of landing.

That the CCR Settlement Working Group meet with Danielle Racette, LINC Implementation Team Director, Citizenship and Immigration, to discuss these issues and develop a fair and equitable manner to recover administrative and volunteer costs associated with the Programme.

That the CCR communicate to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration strongly urging:

1. The revision of eligibility criteria for refugee resettlement programmes with special changes to the Women at Risk Programme criteria, enabling it to be a programme responsive to the urgent protection needs of refugee women;
2. The elimination of the successful establishment component of the admissibility criteria for refugees in urgent need of protection, especially refugee women.

That the CCR:

1. Call upon the Canadian government to:
   1. Publicly clarify the positions it has taken in its discussions with the United States and in multilateral discussions;
   2. Take all available measures, in consultation with the NGO sector, to ensure that
      1. Any screening process set up in the region includes all necessary safeguards for meaningful protection;
      2. No appropriate solutions, such as third country resettlement, be excluded before individual cases are examined;
   3. Select a certain number of Haitian refugees for resettlement in Canada; potential candidates should include Haitians now in vulnerable situations in various locations in the Americas;
2. Call upon the UNHCR to designate adequate resources to ensure that international protection standards are upheld during this process;
3. Approach other organizations in the development and human rights fields to support and participate in our advocacy initiatives on this issue.

That the CCR request the Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work to include a section on refugees in the social work curriculum as a mandatory component.

That the CCR:

1. Request the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and the Chairperson of the Immigration and Refugee Board to study the interaction of the above two reports and to prepare an implementation plan to co-ordinate the changes to be made as a result of these reports;
2. Request that the CCR be made a full participant in the preparation of the above implementation plan;
3. Undertake to develop by the end of September 1994 a common position on the essential principles from both of the above reports that it will advocate in discussions with the government and the IRB.

That the CCR undertake to communicate to the government that:

1.   Immigrant settlement services should not be limited to new arrivals within a restricted time period (wherever limitation exists);
2. Immigrant serving agencies are qualified not only to provide initial settlement services but also a wide range of specialized services such as family counselling, employment and job training, etc.;
3. Immigrant serving agencies should have equal access to funding to meet unmet needs of the community they serve, including those needs which extend beyond the initial stage of settlement.

That the CCR call upon the IRB to ensure that:

1. There is coherence in the overall accreditation of the interpreters in all the languages;
2. Interpreters are made accountable through licensing and be required to observe codes of conduct;
3. Those previously recruited are made to take an updated test before certification.

That the CCR encourage its member organizations to monitor and respond to the media portrayal of refugees and immigrants and to advocate for more balanced coverage, and that the CCR member organizations having experience in media monitoring and media relations make their expertise known to the CCR for sharing among its members.

That

1. The CCR request that the Government of Canada investigate the true costs of each refugee claim and produce its findings
2. The Legal Affairs Committee of the CCR be directed to investigate the possibility of initiating legal proceedings against the Department of Immigration for "spreading false news" and for knowingly distributing incorrect information that is prejudicial to refugee claimants.

That the CCR bring to the attention of funders the need to recognize and provide administrative support costs to their funding programmes.

That the CCR request the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration to direct visa officers to accept and process expeditiously the referrals of Women at Risk cases from the UNHCR and NGOs without an interview for the details of the persecution experience.

That the CCR:

1. Request the Canadian government to make representations to the UNHCR, the CPA steering committee and the CPA fellow signatories to:
   1. establish a mechanism to identify, review and correct cases which have been egregiously denied refugee status, with the use of the UNHCR's mandate authority;
   2. respect the safety and dignity of asylum seekers, by immediately recanting the policy of deprivation measures which has led to reductions in food rations and cuts in educational and medical services;
   3. abstain from the use of force and violence in the repatriation programme;
   4. quickly resettle recognized refugees, many of whom have languished for years in transit camps.
2. Make direct representations to the UNHCR to this effect.

That:

1. The CCR is interested in participating in the "interim review" of rejected refugee claimants announced by the Minister;
2. CCR involvement must include full participation in designing the review process and establishing its criteria and would include representation at all working sessions of the Departmental planning body;
3. All rejected claims, irrespective of date of rejection, be included in the review;
4. If the CCR is adequately represented on a management committee to oversee administration of the review, the CCR recommend to its members that they circulate information on the review and that the CCR also encourage its members to assist eligible claimants in making appropriate submissions to the review process, on a non-exclusive basis.

That:

1. The CCR as a priority undertake a programme of public education to dispel refugee myths. One major undertaking should be the incorporation into press releases of the contribution of newcomers to this society;
2. The CCR incorporate a statement into all its external and internal documents, such as its mission statement and its By-Laws, that part of the role of the Council is to actively promote an anti-racist perspective/initiative in all its work;
3. The CCR set up an internal core group that includes representation from the diverse refugee and immigrant communities to devise strategies to combat racism;
4. As part of its mandate, the core group encourage linkages between immigrant and refugee groups.

That the CCR:

1. Endorse the May 1994 report on detention as its official paper on detention;
2. Condemn the systematic violation of article 9 of the Canadian Charter and our international obligations;
3. Urge the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration to establish clear rules consistent with the Charter to delineate grounds for detention;
4. Urgently demand the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration to establish a mechanism for sanctions and accountability for immigration officials who abuse the rights of non-citizens and to study the possibility of an independent ombudsman for complaints about immigration practices;
5. Demand that a code of ethics be established for immigration officials which stresses the need for normal courtesy and respect for physical conditions for visitors, as well as emphasizing a non-discriminatory attitude towards those coming to this country;
6. Contact provincial tourism ministers to make them aware of the treatment that visitors to this country are subjected to at the current time;
7. Invite the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention of the United Nations Human Rights Commission to visit Canada on a fact-finding visit to investigate the conformity of Canadian practices with international standards of behaviour;
8. Advocate to the Minister that, while awaiting legislative amendments:
   1. Interpreters must be more quickly available at points of entry. No one should be detained simply because an interpreter cannot be found in time;
   2. A citizens advocates mechanism should be established in order to guard against abuse by self-contained administrative tribunals;
   3. The Department should facilitate access to review sessions to advocates willing to accompany detainees;
   4. A mechanism should be established for publishing and making available to counsel noteworthy decisions rendered by adjudicators;
   5. Maximum periods of detention should be established (no more than 4 months), except in cases where there is serious reason to believe the person poses a security risk or risk to the public. At the very least, the 4 month mark should trigger a special review with counsel, if necessary, funded by the federal government to actively seek solutions other than detention. A community advocate should also be present, if desired by the detainee;
   6. Detainees awaiting removal should be released, if the removal cannot be effected in the immediate future, as long as the person is not a security risk;
   7. Regulations establishing standards for detention centre conditions, rights and treatment of detainees and conditions for transfers to jail should be adopted. These regulations should be drawn up in consultation with the NGO sector;
   8. Detainees exhibiting signs of psychological stress should be given access to appropriate medical personnel immediately. Known or suspected survivors of torture should be referred to specialists. Reports of medical personnel should be taken into consideration in all decisions concerning the person's continued detention;
   9. Suicide attempts must be treated with the seriousness such an act merits. Relevant legislation should be reviewed and medical experts consulted to ensure that appropriate procedures are established and followed;
   10. Adequate medical care should be made available to all detainees in a timely manner. Special attention should be given to the medical needs of pregnant women;
   11. NGO's should be invited to participate in the training of personnel at detention centres, so as to increase sensitivity to the rights and needs of detainees;
   12. An independent review mechanism should be set up to oversee conditions of detention;
   13. In cases of detention in jails, detainees who have not been accused of a criminal offence should be separated from the general prison community. Special efforts should be made to expedite the case and to ensure that the detainee has access to counselling and community advocates;
   14. Minimum standards for outdoor exercise facilities should be established. There should be more than a small concrete courtyard;
   15. Airport detention facilities should be improved. Comfortable chairs should be provided. The specific needs of children should also be considered with special reference to the UN Convention on the Rights of Child. Food and drink should be made easily available;
   16. All detainees should be provided with an information sheet that clearly outlines their rights and obligations. The information sheet should be translated into as many languages as possible;
   17. All detainees should be provided with a list of organizations that might provide assistance;
   18. There should be opportunity for NGO representatives to meet with regional immigration officials at regular intervals;
   19. Staff cuts should not be made at the expense of the client. Staff needs should be regularly evaluated and reassignments immediately made if necessary;
   20. In seeking to increase the capacity of NGOs to anticipate and respond to the needs of incoming refugee claimants, the department should keep records of gender, age, and country of origin. These statistics would also permit the department to more effectively anticipate changes that might be required at detention facilities;
   21. Access to chaplaincy on a faith-appropriate basis should be provided.

That the Executive of the CCR request a meeting with the Hon. Sergio Marchi to present for discussion a prioritized list of significant concerns (including refugee levels, need for consultation, Vegreville, SMIS, AAP, IRB appointments, appeal) in order to communicate the CCR position on these urgent matters.

That the CCR gather and document information on the current settlement training opportunities and resources available across Canada which could be used as a resource tool for conference workshops.

That the CCR request the Department of External Affairs to urge the United Nations Security Council to explore measures to fully guarantee long-term protection for the people of Iraqi Kurdistan.

That the CCR and its members urge MPs and Canadian government officials to work to ensure that the Conference documents fully reinforce the right to asylum and reinforce the need for safeguards for the rights of refugees and migrants at borders and elsewhere on state territory.

That the CCR call on Government of Canada to bring to both the Sub-Committee of the Whole on International Protection and the "friends of the rapporteur" a request that non-governmental organizations be allowed to be present and to participate in the workings of both these committees.

That the CCR advocate to the Minister of Immigration and Citizenship and the Provincial Premiers for:

1. The equality with Canadian citizens of access to health, education, shelter and social services for refugee claimants;
2. The guarantee of the provisions and access to rights and freedoms as outlined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to all persons in Canada regardless of their citizenship or status.

That, to show that Master Agreement holders are committed to the Women at Risk Programme:

1. The CCR Working Group on Overseas Protection and Sponsorship (OPS) establish terms of reference by December 1993 for the processing of refugee women under a Five Year Women at Risk Sponsorship Plan;
2. The CCR write all Master Agreement holders by January 1994 asking for a commitment to UNHCR-referred Women at Risk cases over the next five years;
3. The OPS follow up with all Master Agreement holders with regard to their sponsorship commitments in February and March 1994, and compile information by April 1994 on commitments that have been made.
4. The OPS on behalf of Master Agreement holders work out an implementation plan with the UNHCR and Immigration with regard to the Five Year Women at Risk Sponsorship Plan.

That the CCR strongly urge the Department of Citizenship and Immigration to honour the promise implicit in these notices, and facilitate the entry to Canada of parents and their dependent children through the government sponsorship process, where the family in Canada is not yet sufficiently settled to place an undertaking of assistance.