International Law

"Rethinking refugees" - Globe and Mail editorial

By immlawyer

Just reading the Globe and Mail editorial today (I'm subscribed via my Kindle) on "Rethinking Refugees".

This most recent call for refugee reform was triggered by the refugee claim which was apparently heard this week by the Calgary office of the Immigration and Refugee Board, Refugee Protection Division. The claim was against Germany and involved parents who wished to home-school their children, a choice that is apparently not well supported by the state authorities in that country. (It should be noted that a similar claim against Germany did succeed in the U.S.)

The Globe takes issue that Canada is obliged to consider almost all initial refugee claims made within its borders, and seems to support Minister Kenney's position that Canada should settle more overseas refugees (as opposed to the ones that arrive in Canada). The Globe is in agreement with Kenney's promised reforms and calls on the government to "act promptly".

The piece ends with the following "Canada can also send a message to the world about which refugee cases it wants to hear in the first place". I don't see how Canada gets to choose the claims it wants to hear. Unfortunately that's not how an independent system works.

What Canada needs to do is the following: hearings for a refugee claim should occur within six months (instead of the 18+ months currently). Removal should occur after an appeal from a refusal and at most 12 months after the individual arrives. The efficiency of removal will eliminate those that are seeking entry to Canada and make refugee claims solely for economic reasons.

Full post as published by Canadian Immigration Blawg on March 23, 2010 (boomark / email).