From Strangers to Neighbours: Welcoming Newcomers into Canada

Imagine you had to leave your home in a hurry, taking with you only the belongings that you could carry. Imagine not knowing when you would be able to return. Reaching safety, you would feel overwhelmed and disoriented, a stranger in a new place. Many people around the globe have experienced this when they have been forced to seek refuge in another country such as Canada in order to escape dangerous situations in their homeland.

At the end of 2007, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimated there were approximately 16 million refugees and asylum seekers around the globe who have been forced to flee their homes because of violence, natural disasters, or persecution for political or religious reasons.

In addition, it is estimated that there are 51 million internally displaced persons who have been forced from their homes but remain within their own country. The majority of refugees are hosted by developing countries, with North America accepting only a fraction of refugees worldwide. Of the 300,000 newcomers Canada welcomes each year, a mere 10% are refugees.

Refugees seeking asylum in Canada face unimaginable hardships as they are forced to flee their homes and find safety in a foreign country. However, refugees, as well as immigrants, often continue to face difficulties long after they arrive in Canada. According to Statistics Canada, even after ten years of being in Canada, newcomers still experience social and economic disadvantages in comparison to the average Canadian-born citizen, including lower income levels and higher rates of poverty. This disparity stems from several issues, including a lack of access to employment and social services, as well as a lack of recognition of foreign professional credentials.

Only a few decades ago, Canada was viewed as a world leader when it came to welcoming refugees. The Private Sponsorship Program, which allows individuals and groups of Canadian citizens to directly sponsor refugees, was introduced in the late 1970s and facilitated the acceptance of tens of thousands of refugees into Canada during the following decades.

However, in the last fifteen years, the amount of refugees Canada receives has dwindled to a fraction of its previous number. What has changed during this time period? Increased barriers and policies restricting the number of asylum-seekers accepted into Canada have limited the amount of refugees that are welcomed into our country. Annual targets have decreased in capacity due to backlogs in the system, inconsistent standards and a lack of political willpower to help those seeking refuge.

In addition, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 have resulted in a climate of fear and a heightened concern regarding national security issues. Policies aimed at deterring terrorists have had the unintended impact of increasing barriers for refugees seeking asylum in Canada. One such policy is the Safe Third Country Agreement, which prevents refugees that have arrived through the United States from making a claim for asylum in Canada.

Asylum-seekers also face barriers when applying for refugee status once they are in Canada. The Refugee and Immigration Act guarantees the right of refugee claimants to appeal the decision made by the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) regarding their status. However, despite being approved by Parliament in 2001, a Refugee Appeal Division within the IRB still has yet to be implemented, meaning there is currently no appeal process in place.

To ensure that Canada is doing its part to reach out to those in need, government policies are required that make it easier for refugees to claim asylum and be received into Canada. Removing barriers for refugees seeking asylum in Canada - such as reversing the Safe Third Country Agreement – are a crucial component to ensuring that Canada is doing all it can to help those fleeing dangerous situations in other parts of the world.

Policies must also address the specific circumstances with which people may come to Canada. For example, persons who have been trafficked here from overseas often find it difficult to get the protection and help they need. Victims of human trafficking must be given special support to overcome the trauma inflicted by their experiences and be allowed to make their home in Canada if they desire.

As well, policies and programs directly benefiting recent immigrants and refugees are necessary to ensure that newcomers can achieve the same quality of life as other Canadians. Raising the minimum wage and strengthening labour standards to protect low-income and migrant workers would help lift newcomers out of poverty. Developing a more efficient system to recognize foreign professional credentials would enable new immigrants to find employment more easily.

In order to fulfill God’s call to seek public justice, Canada must overcome our culture of fear and welcome newcomers not as strangers, but as neighbours. We must encourage our political leaders to make sound policies to ensure that newcomers can fully participate in society and are not at an economic or social disadvantage because of their circumstances.  In this election, contact your candidate and ask them what policies their party will enact to make Canada a more welcoming place for refugees. Ask them how they plan to work towards creating a Canada that reaches out a hand to newcomers and welcomes them as neighbours.

Questions for Candidates

• Will your party grant a special status visa for victims of human trafficking?
• Will your party immediately establish the Refugee Appeal Division as the law requires?
• What will your party do to reverse higher poverty rates and lower earnings among newcomers?

Links for further information

• www.welcomethestranger.ca – CPJ’s Refugee and Welcome the Stranger section
• www.ccrweb.ca/ - Canadian Council for Refugees website
• http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home - United Nations High Commission on Refugees website
• http://www.cic.gc.ca/ - Citizenship and Immigration Canada website