FIRST ANNUAL REPORT CARD

ON CANADA’S REFUGEE AND IMMIGRATION PROGRAMS

November 2003

 

INTRODUCTION

The Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR) seeks immigration and refugee policies and practices that conform to Canada’s international human rights obligations, comply with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, honour the contribution that refugees and immigrants make to Canadian society, reflect a spirit of openness and generosity, and recognize the obligations that Canadians have towards the many less privileged people in our unequal world.

This report card evaluates Canada’s recent record by reference to what the CCR believes should be the guiding principles. The focus is laid particularly on the policies and practices of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), the federal department responsible for immigration and refugee protection.

On June 28, 2002, the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) came into effect, replacing the previous immigration law that had been in force since 1978. This report card reviews the impact, for better and for worse, of this new Act.

The comments on performance are organized under 10 headings, which have been graded according to whether there has overall been significant progress, limited progress or deterioration. In no area was there found to have been significant progress.

 

Access to Asylum

Deterioration

Fair Refugee Determination

Deterioration

Protection of those in Need

Limited Progress

Responsive Refugee Resettlement Program

Limited Progress

Access to Permanent Status

Limited Progress

United Families

Limited Progress/ Deterioration

Welcoming and Non-Discriminatory Environment

Deterioration

Full Participation of Newcomers

Limited Progress

Enforcement Measures

Deterioration

Children

Limited Progress

 

ACCESS TO ASYLUM

The CCR believes that those in need of Canada’s protection must have access to the refugee determination system.

On the positive side:

On the negative side:

 

FAIR REFUGEE DETERMINATION

The CCR believes that the refugee determination system must be fair.

On the positive side:

On the negative side:

 

PROTECTION OF THOSE IN NEED

The CCR believes that protection must be offered to all who need it.

On the positive side:

On the negative side:

 

 RESPONSIVE REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM

The CCR believes that Canada must respond quickly and effectively to refugees in need of resettlement and to Canadians who wish to make their own contributions by sponsoring refugees.

On the positive side:

On the negative side:

 

ACCESS TO PERMANENT STATUS

The CCR believes that those accepted as refugees and others who live and contribute to Canadian society must be able to acquire permanent status.

On the positive side:

On the negative side:

 

UNITED FAMILIES

The CCR believes that families must be kept united and, when separated, must be rapidly reunited.

On the positive side:

On the negative side:

 

WELCOMING AND NON-DISCRIMINATORY ENVIRONMENT

The CCR believes that the Canadian government must create a welcoming environment, free of discrimination, for newcomers.

On the positive side:

On the negative side:

 

FULL PARTICIPATION OF NEWCOMERS

The CCR believes that newcomers must have the opportunity to participate fully in Canadian society.

On the positive side:

On the negative side:

 

ENFORCEMENT MEASURES

The CCR believes that immigration enforcement measures must respect the human rights of refugees and immigrants.

On the positive side:

On the negative side:

 

CHILDREN

The CCR believes that children must be offered special protection.

On the positive side:

On the negative side:

 

Objectives of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act

The government itself has committed itself to many of the goals articulated by the CCR above, including through the objectives identified for the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. The following are the objectives most relevant to the above points.

IRPA 3(1)(d): To see that families are reunited in Canada.

IRPA 3(1)(e): To promote the successful integration of permanent residents into Canada, while recognizing that integration involves mutual obligations for new immigrants and Canadian society.

IRPA 3(1)(i): To promote international justice and security by fostering respect for human rights…

IRPA 3(1)( j): To work in cooperation with the provinces to secure better recognition of the foreign credentials of permanent residents and their more rapid integration into society.

IRPA 3(2) (a): To recognize that the refugee program is in the first instance about saving lives and offering protection to the displaced and persecuted.

IRPA 3(2)(b): To fulfil Canada's international legal obligations with respect to refugees and affirm Canada's commitment to international efforts to provide assistance to those in need of resettlement.

IRPA 3(2)(c): To grant, as a fundamental expression of Canada’s humanitarian ideals, fair consideration to those who come to Canada claiming persecution.

IRPA 3(2)(d): To offer safe haven to persons with a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group, as well as those at risk of torture or cruel and unusual treatment or punishment.

IRPA 3(2)(e): To establish fair and efficient procedures that will maintain the integrity of the Canadian refugee protection system, while upholding Canada's respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all human beings.

IRPA 3(2)(f): To support the self-sufficiency and the social and economic well-being of refugees by facilitating reunification with their family members in Canada.