From the Canadian Council for Refugees.
Traditionally a leader in welcoming refugees and other newcomers, Canada can and must renew its efforts to protect their rights. This means acting in seven key areas:
1. Making status in Canada secure
This means:
- Making pathways to permanent residence open to all, including:
- migrant workers
- persons who have been trafficked
- Permanent residence for sponsored spouses is unconditional
- Access to Canadian citizenship
2. A broad, inclusive and effective refugee resettlement program
This means:
- The government resettles a significant number of refugees to Canada
- particularly the most vulnerable
- from around the globe
- without discrimination
- The private sponsorship of refugees is quick and simple, and respects the principles of additionality and naming
3. Access to protection
This means:
- Opportunities for refugees to reach Canada
- A fair refugee determination system, without discrimination
- Effective protection for trafficked persons without permanent status
- Adequate support for refugee claimants and trafficked persons
- Adequate protection in the immigration system for women in situations of violence
4. Speedy family reunification
This means:
- Express entry family reunification
- where children are reunited with their parents in 6 months or less
- The definition of family member is broad and inclusive
- reinstating the previous age of dependants
- eliminating the ‘excluded family member’ rule
- Government makes family reunification a top priority
5. Rights and dignity for all
This means:
- Access to essential healthcare
- Access to Canada’s social safety net
- Protection from exploitation for migrant workers
- Immigration detention is reduced to a minimum
- respect for non-citizens’ fundamental right to liberty
6. Accountable immigration enforcement
This means:
- An independent and effective complaints and monitoring mechanism oversees Canada’s border agency (CBSA)
7. Welcoming communities
This means:
- By words and actions, governments and civil society show they
are proud to protect refugees - Governments and civil society honour and celebrate the
contributions of newcomers
For more information: