Canada’s response to the Syrian refugee crisis
Dear Mr Brown:
I have heard that, historically, Canada has taken care of and accepted refugees. However, the previous Canadian government was criticised by its handling of the Syrian Refugee crisis. What is the new government doing to protect the Syrian Refugees?
— BPO
Dear BPO:
The Syrian civil war started more than four years ago and has resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives and has led to the suffering of millions of people. More than four million refugees of the civil war have since fled the country, most of them to neighboring Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq.
Response from the previous government
The former Prime Minister Stephen Harper-led government has been criticised for not doing enough to respond to the unfolding crisis, its failure to accelerate the resettlements, and undue emphasis on security issues rather than humanitarian issues.
New subcommitte
The new government, under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and through the minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship has articulated that cabinet will form a new ad hoc subcommittee to co-ordinate government efforts to bring thousands of Syrian refugees to Canada for safe haven.
Canada has committed to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees in Canada through government sponsorship by the end of the year. Additionally, more refugees could be accepted through private sponsorships.
It is an ambitious target to bring so many people in a short timeframe to ensure humane treatment, while still maintaining proper consideration for security and health concerns.
Principle of non-refoulement (no return)
International law that obliges countries to provide protection to refugees against return to the country where they face a risk of persecution or if their life or freedom is threatened based on race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.
This applies to refugee claimants who are awaiting a decision and those whose claims have been accepted. Canada does not expel claimants while their claims are in process. The claimants may stay until a decision is made.
Canada controls the flow of immigration through immigration levels, application criteria, enforcement procedures and admissibility criteria. Most people who seek refugee status are legitimate. Refugees are forced to flee due to serious risk to their life or victims of human rights abuses. Refugees need protection, which is not provided by the government of their country.
Canada’s commitment
There are several conventions, covenants and treaties which bind Canada to protect refugees. There is an obligation to respect the basic rights of refugee claimants by enabling them to live normal lives. Refugees are given work authorisation and have access to financial, legal, and medical assistance. Refugee children can attend public school. There is also a commitment to a refugee determination system.
In terms of the costs of resettling the refugees, the Canadian government reaffirmed the commitment to invest at least $100 million in refugee processing and resettlement services in Canada. The government will also give the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees an immediate cash injection of $100 million to support the relief activities in Syria and the surrounding area.
Please visit jamaica2canada.com for additional information on Canadian Permanent Residence Programmes, including Express Entry, the Study and Work progamme, visitors’ visas or appeals, etc.
Antonn Brown, BA, (Hons), LLB, MSc, RCIC, is an immigration counsel, education agent and managing director of jamaica2canada.com — a Canadian immigration and education firm in Kingston. Send questions/comments to jamaica2canada@gmail.com.