Update: the provisions have been incorporated into the Budget bill (C-43): see new action item
Bill C-585, currently before the House of Commons, is a private member's bill that would allow provinces to reduce access to social assistance for refugee claimants and other people without permanent status in Canada. The Bill was scheduled to be debated at Second Reading on October 20, 2014.
If this bill is passed there could be major consequences for refugee claimants and others without permanent status, as well as new challenges for organizations serving them.
The CCR has contributed to an information and action kit, produced by the Income Security Advocacy Centre (of Ontario).
It is important for groups to take action right now, to make sure that Members of Parliament understand the issue and appreciate the potential consequences. Expressing opposition before Second Reading could lead to the Bill being defeated or withdrawn.
Please take a look at the document and consider taking action: http://www.incomesecurity.org/documents/BillC-585-InformationandActionKit-Aug2014revised.docx.
The document is also available in French: http://www.incomesecurity.org/documents/ProjetdeloiC-585-Troussedinformationetdemobilisation-Aout2014revised.docx