Toronto Star article on the increasing backlog for refugee claims - due to the Conservative governments' unwillingness to re-appoint RPD Board Members. Excerpt:
...the number of outstanding claims has grown by 50 per cent between 2005 and this August, from 20,552 to 30,891.
At the moment, 46 positions remain unfilled on the board, more than one-third of the regular complement, and it takes an average of 14.2 months to process and determine whether an asylum claim is valid, compared with 11.9 months last December.
CTV reports on a 65 year old US refugee worker that has been charged as a human smuggler under the IRPA after helping 12 Haitians to the border to claim asylum. Excerpt:
Erik Paradis, spokesperson for the Canada Border Services Agency in Quebec, told The Canadian Press that seven people have been charged under the legislation since it became law in 2002.
But he did not say whether Hinshaw-Thomas is the only human rights worker to be charged.
"The law is quite clear," he said. "Organizing and aiding entry into Canada is an offence under Section 117 of the (act)."
"We can't tolerate human smuggling. The CBSA (is) really going to continue its efforts to combat movement of people, and (this charge) is an example."
Such a broad interpretation of the relevant provision would criminalize even Canadians that assist meritorious refugee/asylum claims by family members. What is relevant is that there are real differences as to asylum law and policy between Canada and the US. I have personally been involved in refugee cases that grant status (here in Canada) where there's been a previous refusal of the same claim in the US. Just look at the disparate approval rates between the two countries (and with respect to specific countries - check out the 80%+ acceptance rate for Colombians in Canada vs. less than 50% acceptance rate for Colombians in the US).
I believe that this is wrong, this was not the intent of Parliament - which was probably to target criminal organizations, and is clearly an overreaction by CBSA to recent news/claims of thousands of refugee claimants from the US heading north to inundate Canada.
CBC article on the (well reported) 'spike' in Mexican refugee claims - as a result of increasing measures to address the illegal immigrant situation in the US.
Canada.com article on the man at the centre of the controversy - Mr. Sinjuste defends his actions in 'facilitating' the entry of Mexicans and Haitians to Canada to claim asylum. Excerpt:
Sinjuste denied that his group is responsible for the sudden flood this month of more than 300 refugee claimants, including hundreds of Mexican illegal aliens who had been living for years in Florida and fled north following an immigration crackdown. They crossed the border at Windsor and are now overloading the city's social services system. The bill for taking care of the sudden influx of claimants is now more than $300,000.
I've listened to Minister Day's response to the 'spike' in claims. Short answer - Mexicans living in the US are exempt from the Safe Third Country Agreement, and as a result are eligible to make a refugee claim in Canada. In terms of Haitians, again, they can claim as there is a moratorium on removals to that country. There is nothing legally Day can do to stop these claims. Period. If Minister Day wants to deny or restrict refugee protection or asylum policy, he needs to address the underlying legislation.
If anything, what needs to happen is a comprehensive reform of Canada's immigration and refugee protection system so that claims are expeditiously and fairly considered.
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