There have been numerous serious inaccuracies in recent public comment on the Canadian refugee system, often apparently motivated by hostility to refugee claimants. This does not support reasoned discussion about the important policy issues.
Refugees are among the most vulnerable people in society and are easy targets for attack, as non-citizens in a foreign country.
Not all claimants are refugees – but even those who are not refugees often have compelling reasons for having left their countries. Many factors contribute to existing problems in the system: we shouldn’t blame the individuals caught up in it. The fault may lie right outside the refugee system: for example, people may be drawn into making claims because of the failure in our immigration system to provide avenues for workers whose labour we want.
