Recent Changes in Refugee and Immigration Policy October 2014 Canadian Council for Refugees
Recent Changes in Refugee and Immigration Policy M ajor themes Shift in priorities to economic Increase in precarious status Restrictions for refugees Emphasis on criminality and fraud 2
Recent Changes in Refugee and Immigration Policy Economic priority
Recent Changes in Refugee and Immigration Policy Immigra tion ca tegories : 1995 120,000 100,000 80,000 60,000 40,000 20,000 0 Family Refugees Economic 4 Economic Priorities
Recent Changes in Refugee and Immigration Policy Immigra tion ca tegories : 2014 targets 160,000 140,000 120,000 100,000 80,000 60,000 40,000 20,000 0 Family Refugees Economic 5 Economic Priorities
Recent Changes in Refugee and Immigration Policy Immigra tion ca tegories : 1995 vs. 2014 160,000 140,000 120,000 100,000 80,000 60,000 40,000 20,000 0 Family Refugees Economic 1995 2014 6 Economic Priorities
Recent Changes in Refugee and Immigration Policy Priority to economic migra tion Reflected (for example) in policy changes: Sponsorship of parents and grandparents Age of dependents from under 22 to under 19 7 Economic Priorities
Recent Changes in Refugee and Immigration Policy Precarious s tatus
Recent Changes in Refugee and Immigration Policy M igrant workers Temporary Foreign Workers vs Permanent Res idents 2009-2013 400,000 375,000 350,000 325,000 300,000 275,000 250,000 225,000 200,000 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Foreign Workers Permanent res idents 9 Precarious s tatus
Recent Changes in Refugee and Immigration Policy Vulnerable to exploitation and abuse due to: lack of permanent status employer-specific work permits isolation lack of access to information on rights lack of monitoring no settlement services 10 Precarious s tatus
Recent Changes in Refugee and Immigration Policy Trafficked pers ons New barriers to protection through a Temporary Res ident Permit Refugee claimants (one year ban) Designated Foreign Nationals (five year ban) 11 Precarious s tatus
Recent Changes in Refugee and Immigration Policy Conditional Permanent Res idence Regulatory change Oct 2012 Sponsored spouses/partners, together for less than 2 years (no children) PR conditional for 2 years Exception for abuse or neglect 12 Precarious s tatus
Recent Changes in Refugee and Immigration Policy Ces s a tion and los s of Permanent Res idence Since 2012, permanent residents who came as refugees lose their permanent residence if they are found to no longer need protection. 13 Precarious s tatus
Recent Changes in Refugee and Immigration Policy Barriers to citizens hip Citizens hip applications 450,000 400,000 Applications 350,000 Received New Citizens 300,000 Inventory 250,000 200,000 150,000 100,000 50,000 Prepared by Canadian 0 Council for Refugees 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 from CIC data 14 Precarious s tatus
Recent Changes in Refugee and Immigration Policy Barriers to citizens hip Slow processing – 24 months Residence Questionnaire New requirement – provide proof of competence in English/French Increased fees – February 2014 15 Precarious s tatus
Recent Changes in Refugee and Immigration Policy Amendments to Citizens hip Act o Approved June 2014 o Most provisions not yet in force o Citizenship “harder to get, easier to lose” 16 Precarious s tatus
Recent Changes in Refugee and Immigration Policy Res trictions for refugees
Recent Changes in Refugee and Immigration Policy Refugee Health Care 18 Res trictions for refugees
Recent Changes in Refugee and Immigration Policy Interim Federal Health Program Cuts effective June 30, 2012 Affect resettled refugees, refugee claimants and others Federal Court: cuts “cruel and unusual treatment” (July 2014) 19 Res trictions for refugees
Recent Changes in Refugee and Immigration Policy Refugee claim sys tem Warning – EXTREME COMPLEXITY! 20 Res trictions for refugees
Recent Changes in Refugee and Immigration Policy Changes to claims - Key fea tures Very short timelines Differential treatment Refugee appeal but bars on recourses 21 Res trictions for refugees
Recent Changes in Refugee and Immigration Policy Drop in numbers of claims Claims referred, 1989-2013 50,000 45,000 40,000 35,000 30,000 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 0 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 22 Res trictions for refugees
Recent Changes in Refugee and Immigration Policy Refugee res ettlement T he highs and lows of refugee res ettlement to Canada 1979-2013 45,000 40,000 35,000 30,000 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 0 Gov't ass. Refugees Priv. Spons. Refugees 23 Res trictions for refugees
Recent Changes in Refugee and Immigration Policy Changes in res ettlement Increased restrictions for private sponsors (but increased expectations) Ministerial priorities Focus on limited number of refugee populations Little response to Syrian crisis 24 Res trictions for refugees
Recent Changes in Refugee and Immigration Policy Focus on fraud, criminality
Recent Changes in Refugee and Immigration Policy Permanent res idence and criminality Faster Removal of Foreign Criminals (C-43) June 2013 No right of appeal – 6 month sentence (previously 2 years) 26 Focus on fraud, criminality
Recent Changes in Refugee and Immigration Policy Divis ive rhetoric Common themes: Fraud Criminality Queue-jumping Pitting Canadians against refugees 27 Focus on fraud, criminality
Recent Changes in Refugee and Immigration Policy 28
Recent Changes in Refugee and Immigration Policy For more informa tion: ccrweb.ca 29
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