A call to action from Citizens for Public Justice
Refugee claimants in Canada shouldn't be forced to sleep in a shelter. World Refugee Day is June 20, 2024.
In honour of World Refugee Day, Citizens for Public Justice (CPJ) has launched an interfaith statement demanding a comprehensive national plan for refugee claimant housing, an area that has been long neglected. Canada has been recognized globally as a leader in refugee resettlement, with programs that provide life-saving pathways for those who are identified as needing protection overseas. Government-Assisted Refugees (GAR), Blended Visa Office-Referred Refugees (BVOR) and Privately Sponsored Refugees (PSR) receive essential financial, social and settlement support to facilitate a fulsome welcome to their new home. However, no similar system exists for refugee claimants – those who arrive seeking protection at or within the Canadian borders. As a result, refugee claimants are left with inadequate assistance and made vulnerable to exploitation and homelessness.
Every year the number of refugee claimants in Canada continues to grow. In 2019, the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) received 58,378 refugee claims. In 2023 this figure was 137,947. It takes approximately two years for refugee claims to be processed and the vast majority of claimants are determined to be refugees fleeing persecution. During their waiting period, claimants are made to navigate a bureaucratic maze, often without legal counsel. They must work to secure short-term and long-term housing with limited financial and social assistance. As a result, many must rely on overburdened shelters. Some face homelessness in the process.
On Refugee Rights Day, April 4th, 2024, the Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR) announced their campaign “A National Plan for Asylum with Dignity: Five Key Pillars.” The campaign calls on the federal government to implement a national plan that provides essential housing, social support and upholds the rights of refugee claimants. By mobilizing existing infrastructure and the knowledge of civil society organizations, Canada can provide life-saving settlement support to refugee claimants. As a part of the campaign, Citizens for Public Justice (CPJ) launched this broad interfaith call to action for faith leaders, religious organizations and members of the faith community to demand for the implementation of A National Plan for Asylum with Dignity (Sign on here).
Canadian faith-based communities and organizations have a long history of advocating for refugee rights. Churches along with other faith communities make up the majority of organizations that are Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAHs). As SAHs, faith organizations have played a significant role in the resettlement of PSRs. Faith-based organizations have also shaped the trajectory of refugee law that allows for the protection of refugee claimants. In 1985, faith groups intervened in the landmark Singh case in which the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms applied to everyone physically in Canada including asylum seekers. Following this tradition, we now demand a more fulsome welcome for refugee claimants – one that upholds their inherent dignity and provides appropriate conditions in their new home.
Canada is a signatory to both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 1951 Refugee Convention, both of which protect the right to seek asylum. In line with international human rights responsibilities, Canada must ensure that it is upholding the rights of those fleeing persecution. A national plan that adequately addresses the needs of claimants is in line with these responsibilities and results in more efficient and financially responsible policymaking. The federal government’s negligence of refugee claimants continues to inflict tremendous harm on those seeking safety within our borders. The lack of planning results in inefficient spending, and overburdened shelter systems. It is time for people of faith to come together once again and demand that Canada implement a national plan that provides essential housing and social support. Canada must uphold the rights of refugee claimants.
