Balanced
reforms to Canada’s asylum system
Canadians
can be proud of our long-standing compassion and commitment to help those
who are persecuted and displaced in conflict zones around the world. Among
industrialized countries, we are second only to the United States in the
number of refugees we welcome to this country to start a new life.
Each
year, we welcome 10,000-12,000 refugees to Canada from abroad, many of
them living in desperate conditions in refugee camps or urban
slums–women, men and children forced to flee their homes to escape war,
famine and natural disasters. That represents 10 percent of all refugees
resettled around the globe.
Then
there are those who make the long trek to Canada and seek asylum once they
arrive. Many of their stories are harrowing and tragic. They tell of loss
and fear and hope for a new life here in Canada.
But
there is another part to this story. And unfortunately it is a story of
abuse, of people taking advantage of our generosity and goodwill to try to
find a back door into Canada rather than wait their turn in the
immigration queue.
Prior
to our imposition of visas on citizens of Mexico and the Czech Republic
last year, Canada had seen a 60 percent increase in the number of asylum
claims over two years. Canada receives more asylum claims per capita than
any comparable democracy (38,000 asylum claims in 2008), 58 percent of
which are unfounded. These numbers suggest that for many, Canada has
become a destination of choice for false claimants.
The
numbers are alarming. Approximately 60,000 people are waiting for
decisions on their claims for asylum. With all the available recourses and
appeals, it generally takes 4.5 years from the start of an asylum claim
until a failed claimant is removed from Canada. In some extreme cases, it
has taken 10 years or more.
Too
much time and too many resources are being spent on reviewing claims by
people who are not refugees and who abuse the system to stay in Canada for
years, often at taxpayers’ expense.
That
is why I have introduced legislation which would improve Canada’s asylum
system, deliver quicker decisions on claims, provide faster protection to
those who need our help, and more quickly remove those who do not.
These
changes, if passed, would also allow us to do more to help victims of
violence and persecution as we also plan to increase by 2,500 the number
of refugees resettled to Canada, while giving them more support to start
their lives over again.
Only by
fixing our broken in-Canada system can we effectively increase the
generosity of our overseas system. This is why improvements to the
overseas and in-Canada asylum programs are being pursued together, with
changes to both contingent on our legislation being passed.
I
encourage you to visit my department’s website at www.cic.gc.ca/english/refugees/reform.asp
to learn more about the bold steps we are taking.
Canada
will always be open to genuine refugees. Our model for refugee protection
continues to be anchored in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
and international agreements. These new measures respect the principles of
fairness and effectiveness for the human rights of all.
We
are honouring the values and traditions that Canadians hold dear, and we
will continue to do so by ensuring that our asylum system is fair and
balanced for those who truly need our protection.
Jason
Kenney
Minister
of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism
