The Canadian Safe Third Country Agreement with the United States was signed on December 5th, 2002 (Canada 2016), and is apart of the U.S., Canada Smart Border Action Plan. The Policy states that, “Refugee claimants are required to request refugee protection in the first safe country they arrive in, unless they qualify for an exception to the Agreement” (Canada 2016). The key actors in this policy are both Canadian and American Governments, citizens of both Canada and America, Refugee claimants, and Non-profit organizations/interest groups. The policy was put in place so that the management of refugee claimants may be properly organized, so that our borders may no longer congested, and so that we may avoid ‘asylum shopping’ (Committee of …show more content…
The policy gives 4 circumstances in which someone may be exempted. The exemptions being: Family member exceptions, unaccompanied minor’s exception, document holder exceptions, and public interest exceptions. Yet, in order to be exempted, “refugee claimants must still meet all other eligibility criteria of Canada’s immigration legislation” (Canada 2016). For example, if a claimant has made a human rights violation, they will be inadmissible and will not be eligible to seek refuge in Canada (Canada 2016). However, many people believe that the Government has provided a lack of information in terms of these exemptions. “The terms of the Agreement and corresponding regulations are complex and little understood. Even immigration lawyers have been found on occasion to be muddled about the basic provisions of the Agreement” (Canadian Council for Refugees, 2005). The Government has made information inaccessible for those seeking to educate themselves, and therefore there has been a drop in refugee claimants who seek asylum in Canada because of this policies implementation (Canadian Council for Refugees, …show more content…
I don’t believe that America can be considered a safe place for refugees to take refuge. The IRPA (Immigration and Refugee Protection Act), “permits the designation of safe third countries for the purpose of sharing the responsibility for refugee claims” (Canada 2017). However, we can see that America is not taking any responsibility for refugee claims. This is one of the policies unsuccessful aspects. Moreover, with Canada’s drop in refugee claimants, lack of concise information given by the government, and life threatening refugee trafficking, there seems to be a lot of negative implications to this policy, rather than positive. In class we talked about Policy Failure, and how a policy can fail at any stage. I believe that this policy was doomed to fail from the start. I don’t think that the administrative team/committee considered the seriousness of the policies effects before its implementation. Change is normal after a policy evaluation has been done, however it’s not an easy
Historically, Canada has held a world renowned reputation as nation with a magnanimous ideological approach to providing asylum to those individuals subjected to marginalization and persecution in their homeland – regardless of their nation of origin (Ismaili, 2011, p.89 & 92). Indeed, providing sanctuary to refugees who would otherwise experience significant hardships ranging from blatant discrimination and racism to torture and genocide, has very much become an institutionalized aspect of Canadian society. However, recent changes to Canada’s immigration policy delineated in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Bill C-31 may have perhaps put this ideology in peril (Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, 2001).
...a’s immigration policy becoming fairer. From 1991-1997, 607 Rwandan refugees were allowed into Canada. From 1992-1997, close to 13,000 thousand Bosnian refugees were allowed into Canada. The acceptance of these refugees from Bosnia and Rwanda show how much Canada’s immigration policy has changed since 1914, when many immigrants and refugees trying to enter Canada were rejected.
Definition/explanation : The issue is the controversy in letting Syrian refugees into Canada. There are pros and cons to letting Syrians into Canada, which means a lot of people are divided on whether to let them into Canada or not.
The Family class makes up approximately 28% of people immigrating to Canada. This is a class of people who are wanting to immigrant to Canada in order to be with a relative or spouse who is a Canadian citizen or recent immigrant (also known as a Sponsor). There is no point system required to be accepted as an immigrant, but they must prove that their Sponsor is able to meet the minimum necessary income for them until the applicant can find an employment. Accepting these types of immigrants not only allows Canada to stay on good terms with its immigrants but, also keeps the money that the original immigrant would have been making, and sending back to their family in their home country, to stay and be spent in Canada. The Canadian government has many laws and policies for immigrants and immigration. For example, in 2002 the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act was instituted. It has four main objectives: to pursue social, cultural and economical benefits for all Canadians, to reunite families in Canada, to promote successful integration of immigrants and to respect the bilingual and multicultural character of Canada. Another example of a policy impacted by immigration was the Sign Decision in 1985. This was the ruling of the Supreme Court of Canada that the Immigration Act (1976) was a violation of our Section 7 rights in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In this case, Santam Sign was not permitted to appeal the government's refusal to his immigration proposal in court. As a result the Supreme Court ruled that this did not allow Sign the right to liberty, life and security- our basic Section 7 rights. People applying for refugee status in Canada now how the right to a quick and fair hearing with them in attending and any life necessities they may need while in Canada during this process. So as you can see, politics has
Ninette Kelley and M. J. Trebicock, The Making of the Mosaic: a history of Canadian immigration policy. (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1998). Immigration Policy in Canada: History. Administration and Debates. “Mapleleafweb.com.”
Every year, over 250,000 people make Canada their new home. Attracted by its education system, economy and universal healthcare system, there are few other places in the world like it. All Canadians are guaranteed equality before the law and equality of opportunity, regardless of where they are from. However, some might argue that Canadian policy has not been put into practice as well as it should be. Is the concept of true equality a far-fetched idea? It seems that Canada has taken great measures to promote the integration of immigrants socially, but can the same be said for their integration economically? Politically? To judge whether or not Canada has been successful at promoting the integration of immigrants in these realms, a deeper understanding of Canadian policy must be considered.
The Canadian Justice system has failed its mandate of creating a just and peaceful society for all in regards to treatment of immigrants. Our current system of operations of indefinite immigrant detention is in desperate need of revitalization for as it stands it is one of the weakest and most unnecessarily components of our legislature. As proven through differing worldwide policies a limitation can be applied effectively and national security may still be maintained. Clear limits to the practice of detention are in place in both the European Union and in the United States. In the EU, detention is capped at six months with the possibility of extending to 18 months in certain cases. In the U.S., the period of presumptive release is six months,
Canada's immigration policy is based upon principles of family reunion, humanitarian concern for refugees, and the promotion of Canada's social, economic, demographic and cultural goals.
The country of Canada is known for its celebration of diverse population and multiculturalism. For years foreigners have been immigrating to Canada to find better opportunities for themselves and their families. Citizenship offers protection of human rights and freedoms including mobility and equality among others, under the Charter. (Canadian Charter, 1982, s 6(2)(b)) The status of Canadian citizenship first started with the official Citizen Act in 1947, which distinguished Canada from other parts of the British Commonwealth. “Before 1947, residents of Britain, Australia, and New Zealand could without limitation immigrate to Canada whenever they chose … Canadians had the same rights to move to those countries and exercise political rights” (Dickerson, Flanagan & O'Neill, 2009). As the country has become more developed, the state of immigration has changed with it. The process of obtaining legal citizenship today is varied according to the applicants’ circumstances. The current state of immigration into Canada is shaped by these paths to citizenship.
Today, there are over 65 million refugees in the world. That means that one in every 113 people in the world is a refugee. To many, this number may seem extremely alarming. Many refugees struggle to find a place to resettle. America, along with other developed countries, has often been considered dreamland for these displaced people, making many wanting to get out of their war-torn houses and camps. Refugees immigrating to America have been displaced from their original homes, face frustrating immigration policies, and have difficulties starting a new life in a new land.
Stoffman, Daniel. Who gets in: What's wrong with Canada's immigration program, and how to fix it. Toronto: Macfarlane Walter & Ross, 2002.
Canada is perceived by other nations as a peace-loving and good-natured nation that values the rights of the individual above all else. This commonly held belief is a perception that has only come around as of late, and upon digging through Canadian history it quickly becomes obvious that this is not the truth. Canadian history is polluted with numerous events upon which the idea that Canada is a role model for Human Rights shows to be false. An extreme example of this disregard for Human Rights takes place at the beginning of the twentieth-century, which is the excessive prejudice and preconceived notions that were held as truths against immigrants attempting to enter Canada. Another prime example of these prejudices and improper Human Rights is the Internment of those of Japanese descent or origin during the Second World War. Also the White Paper that was published by the government continues the theme of Human Rights being violated to the utmost extreme. All these events, as well as many others in history, give foundation to the idea that “Canada as a champion for Human Rights is a myth”.
During the month of October, Canada’s political scene was very busy due to the 2015 federal election held on the 19th. Throughout the previous months, the public held great interest towards the campaigns of each party as well as their platforms in order to choose the party that the public wanted as the new government of Canada. In the campaigns, a major topic that was included in every party’s plan was the Syrian refugee crisis that is currently an issue in many countries around the globe. This crisis has taken the media by storm and is a concern for many citizens in Canada. As a country known to be peaceful and generous, many people would assume that Canada would be one of the first to step in and help those in need but that is not the case. The general population does not know that the current laws in place make becoming a refugee in Canada a long and unfair process. Acquiring refugee status in Canada, protecting Canada’s Immigration System Act, health care for refugees and the current stance of Canada in regards to the refugee crisis are all factors that the general public must be more aware about. The current laws regarding refugees of Canada must change.
Government of Canada.( 2005, January 3). Evaluation of the immigrant settlement and adaptation program (ISAP). Retrieved from http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/evaluation/isap/cap-service.asp
Another casual night: the air is sticky, and the water is scarce, all throughout the country the sound of gunshots are ringing through the air. For most people, this “casual” night is beyond their wildest imagination, but for Syrians it is an ongoing nightmare. Faced with the trauma of a civil war, Syrian refugees seek protection and a more promising future than the life they currently live in their oppressive country. Many seek refuge in other Middle East countries like Turkey and Jordan, but others search for hope in the icon of freedom, the United States of America. However, in America, there is an ongoing debate about whether or not Syrian refugees should be accepted. America needs to accept the Syrian refugees because if they do not, the