The Canadian Council for Refugees is highly concerned with the recent expansion of the Safe Third Country Agreement and its devastating impacts on tens of thousands of people who have been forcibly displaced and are seeking protection. Their fundamental rights need to be at the centre of Canada’s concerns. Under international human rights law, Canada has legal obligations to uphold their right to protection.
Canadian Council for Refugees
Public statement
March 9, 2023
In response to the current focus on people making refugee claims at Roxham Road, the Canadian Council for Refugees highlights the following points and calls for respect for the rights and dignity of all those seeking our protection.
Canada has legal obligations towards refugees at our borders
The following are some comments on the federal government's Budget 2022.
We welcome the ambitious immigration plan for 2022, which, as mentioned, is necessary to meet labour needs as well as reuniting families.
On March 18, the CCR wrote to the Minister Sean Fraser, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, with recommendations and concerns about the Canadian immigration measures in response to the invasion of Ukraine.
In this letter, we highlighted that:
When people are forced to flee, as is currently the case in Ukraine, the fundamental right to seek refuge must be safeguarded – fully and without discrimination. We are concerned at reports that people from Africa and from Asia are facing barriers in fleeing to neighbouring countries.
The following are priority concerns for the Canadian Council for Refugees with respect to the UN Global Compact on Refugees and the UN Global Compact for Migration
This International Workers Day, migrant workers in Canada are still waiting for the federal government to take substantive action to protect them from exploitation and to recognize the value of their contribution to the Canadian economy and communities.
4 April 2017
Reunite refugee families this Refugee Rights Day
On Refugee Rights Day 2017, the Canadian Council for Refugees is drawing attention to the need for equal access to family reunification for refugees.
Recently, there has been an increase in people entering from the US to make a refugee claim in Canada. There have also been distressing reports of people suffering serious frostbite as they attempt to enter Canada.