SCPA: CANADA AND REFUGEES

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  • Contextual data from refugees in Uganda (1972) and Indochina (1975-1979).

  • Reference to GUNHCR/H. Gloaguen and the Agency for Refugees.

  • Overview of refugees welcomed in Canada.

Canada as a Global Leader

  • Canada viewed as an "exceptional" case in global migration.

  • Institutional framework addressing the question "who is a refugee?"

    • Key developments include:

    • 1986: Canada awarded the Nansen Medal by the UNHCR.

    • Robust settlement system established in the late 1970s.

      • Features two primary components:

      • Government-assisted component

      • Private sponsorship component

    • Introduction of innovative policies and practices related to newcomers' integration.

    • Initiatives promoting welcoming communities for immigrants.

Refugees After WWII

  • Gradual opening of Canada to refugees post-WWII, primarily due to labor demands.

  • Impact of the 1951 Geneva Convention noted.

  • Introduction of family sponsorship programs allowing individuals to bring relatives in need to Canada.

  • Challenges faced:

    • Rigid immigration restrictions prevented many refugees from entering Canada.

    • Episodes include immigration of:

      • 1956: 40,000 Hungarians

      • 1960: 7,000 refugees from Europe (predominantly from Soviet bloc countries)

Why the Change?

  • Factors leading to policy change include:

    • Post-war consensus acknowledging the Holocaust's horrors and the need for humanitarian response.

    • Rise of international organizations and agreements promoting refugee rights.

    • The Universal Declaration on Human Rights establishes the principle that “Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.”

    • Ratification of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.

    • Growing pressure from international organizations following the 1951 Convention's passage.

    • Economic conditions: Healthy economy, decreased unemployment, increased labor demands.

    • Recognition of impending population stagnation without increased immigration.

    • Increased activism from civil society advocating for humanitarian responses to refugees.

    • Changes in immigration policy to eliminate racial, ethnic, or source country discrimination.

Refugees in Canada I

  • Key refugee intakes by year:

    • 1956-57: 37,500 Hungarian refugees

    • 1968-69: 11,500 Czechoslovakian refugees

    • 1972: Over 6,000 Ugandan refugees resettled

    • 1973: 7,000 Chilean refugees accepted

    • 1979-80: Accommodated 60,000 Vietnamese, Cambodians, and Laotians

    • 1999-2000: More than 7,000 Kosovars accepted

    • 2015-16: Close to 40,000 Syrian refugees welcomed

Refugees in Canada II

  • Late 19th/early 20th century: Some groups perceived as immigrants were refugees (e.g., Doukhobors, Mennonites, Hutterites from Russia and Eastern Europe).

  • Contrarily, other groups faced ostracization based on race, religion, health, and ideology (e.g., Chinese immigrants, communists, Black Americans, and Jewish refugees during WWII).

  • Prior to WWII, no formal humanitarian prerogative existed; entry was contingent on meeting strict immigration criteria.

Canadian Immigration Model 1900-1960

  • Treatment of immigrants varied:

    • Open door policy for British immigrants with preferential treatment.

    • Open door approach for other European immigrants, especially from Northern Europe, but more restrictive for Southern Europeans.

    • Barriers and deportations for “undesirables”, including those with specific political beliefs.

    • The notion of "inadmissibility" obstructed many potential immigrants.

    • Immigration was regarded as a privilege, not a right (Prime Minister Mackenzie King).

A New Canadian Immigration System

  • 1962: New Immigration Regulations abolished most racial discrimination, yet Europeans maintained broader sponsorship rights.

  • 1967: Introduction of the points system for immigration evaluation.

  • 1971: Announcement of a policy supporting multiculturalism.

  • 1974: Launch of the Immigrant Settlement and Adaptation Program (ISAP).

  • 1976: Implementation of a New Immigration Act—importance on refugee policy highlighted.

  • 2002: Update of Immigration Act in response to security concerns post-9/11.

The 1976 Immigration Act

  • Aims:

    • Fulfill demographic goals via immigration.

    • Promote family reunification.

    • Facilitate economic growth through immigration.

    • Maintain Canada's humanitarian tradition by welcoming refugees.

Canada: Dramatic Rise in Refugee Arrivals

  • Global refugee count escalated from 2.5 million (1970) to over 18 million (1994).

  • Canada’s overseas refugee intake surged from 7,300 in 1977 to 52,300 in 1991, comprising 23% of total immigration.

  • Spontaneous refugee arrivals at Canadian borders rose from hundreds in the 1970s to thousands in the 1980s, peaking at 37,000 in 1992.

  • Importance noted of related articles (Ervis Matani and Kandice Pardy) and Kelley and Trebilcock’s work on immigration policy history.

Government Assisted Refugees (GAR)

  • GARs are individuals recognized as needing protection due to a well-founded fear of persecution based on criteria such as race, religion, nationality, and political opinion.

  • Upon arrival, GARs receive support from either the Government of Canada or the province of Quebec.

    • The Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) is administered by service provider organizations.

    • Support typically lasts for up to one year from the date of arrival in Canada.

Privately Sponsored Refugees Program

  • Privately sponsored refugees are resettled individuals approved overseas who arrive in Canada as permanent residents.

    • In addition to resettling refugees, Canada also protects individuals making successful refugee claims upon arrival.

  • Private sponsorship involves groups of Canadians or organizations, often from faith-based or ethno-cultural communities, providing financial and settlement assistance typically for a year on average post-arrival.

Refugees: Slow, Selective Start

  • Post WWII shifts in refugee policy: notable cases include:

    • Refugees from Soviet expansion, such as Estonians, Hungarians, and Czechoslovakians.

    • 1968: Notable acceptance of American draft dodgers.

    • 1969: Canada signed the UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.

    • 1970s marked a more inclusive approach with nearly unprecedented welcoming of refugees from non-white countries like Tibetans, Asian Ugandans, Chileans, and Lebanese.

Refugees in Canada – Designated Classes Post-1979

  • The creation of designated classes of refugees in 1979:

    • The Indochinese class, including people from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos.

    • Eastern European Self-Exiled Persons class.

    • Latin American Political Prisoners and Oppressed Persons class.

  • Special programs initiated for various regions including Lebanon, Poland, and El Salvador, reflecting urgent humanitarian cases.

Foundations of Current Immigration System

  • The establishment of three official pillars of immigration within Canada's framework:

    • Economic immigration.

    • Family class.

    • Humanitarian immigration (refugees and protected persons).

    • A semi-invisible fourth pillar: Temporary labor migration.

Refugee Programs in Canada

  • Overview of two main sections of the Canadian refugee system: ### Refugee and Humanitarian Resettlement Program

    • Designed for individuals needing protection from outside Canada.

    • Includes:

    • Government-assisted stream.

    • Privately sponsored stream.
      ### Inland Refugee Claims Program

    • For individuals making refugee protection claims within Canada (Asylum Seekers).

The Canadian Settlement Model

  • National Settlement System:

    • Responsibilities of the IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada).

    • In Quebec, the provincial government manages settlement services.

    • Services categorized as:

    • Direct: Language training, employment aid.

    • Indirect: Promotion of francophone immigration and integration initiatives such as Local Immigration Partnerships (LIPs) and Welcoming Communities.

    • Eligible clients mainly permanent residents (immigrants and GARs).

Immigrant Integration Model

  • Canada's integration strategy is based on mutual adaptation between newcomers and Canadian society.

  • Focuses on inclusive laws and enabling programs supporting this model:

    • Inclusive Laws and Policies:

    • Citizenship Act.

    • Multiculturalism Act.

    • Official Languages Act.

    • Canadian Human Rights Act.

    • Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

    • Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

    • Newcomer Categories:

    • Economic immigrants.

    • Family class immigrants.

    • Refugees.

    • Enabling Programs supporting integration:

    • Focus on two-way models ensuring mutual contributions.

The Settlement Ecosystem

  • Various stakeholders involved in the delivery of settlement services:

    • Federal Government: Oversees citizenship, multiculturalism, health, and justice.

    • Provincial/Territorial Governments: Manage education, health, and social services.

    • Municipal Governments: Important as conveners for local immigration partnerships.

    • Service Provider Organizations (SPOs): About 500 organizations working to deliver federally funded services across Canada (excluding Quebec).

    • Public institutions such as educational bodies play a role in language training.

    • Employers are essential for labor market access and integration into the workforce.

Resettlement and Settlement Services: A Snapshot

  • Programs tailored for eligible permanent residents and GARs covering a spectrum of support: ## Pre-Arrival Services

    • Language Learning: Assessment and training options available.

    • Support Services: Helping newcomers access essential services like childcare and transportation.
      ## Post-Arrival: Direct Services

    • Information/Orientation: Guiding newcomers through the Canadian systems.

    • Community Connections: Integrating newcomer services within public institutions. - Employment: Support in job search, networking, and mentorship opportunities.
      ## Post-Arrival: Indirect Services

    • Local Immigration Partnerships (LIPs)/Réseaux en immigration francophone (RIFS): Foster community collaboration for local planning and development.