Interesno (refugees and immigration at all)

[Villi]

Minister takes aim at bogus refugees


By MARINA JIMÉNEZ
From Thursday's Globe and Mail

Canada's refugee-determination system is subject to blatant abuse by economic migrants and is in need of a major overhaul, says Citizenship and Immigration Minister Judy Sgro, who vowed to implement key reforms.

Ms. Sgro outlined her vision yesterday for solving many of the long-standing problems in Canada's beleaguered refugee process, and spoke as well about the need for the country to attract more immigrants to sustain its economic growth in the face of a declining birth rate and aging population.

"I don't intend to be a caretaker minister," Ms. Sgro said. "There's a problem and everyone knows there's a problem. . . . From what I've seen, people [in the refugee system] are economic migrants more than anything else. They're fleeing poor countries and see Canada as a chance to give them a new future. . . . Many failed refugee claimants might be able to come here in another category."

Last year, 42,000 asylum-seekers filed claims with the Immigration and Refugee Board, which must determine whether they are fleeing persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group, or whether they need protection because their lives will be in danger if they are returned to their homeland.

The IRB's acceptance rate has dropped steadily since its creation 15 years ago to 42 per cent in 2003 from 84 per cent in 1989, suggesting that increasing numbers of bogus claimants are attempting to use the refugee system as a back door into the country. While most claimants used to come from war-torn countries, in recent years the top 10 source countries have included stable democracies such as Mexico, Costa Rica, Hungary and Turkey.

Among the initiatives Ms. Sgro hopes cabinet will approve are: reducing the number of avenues of appeal available so failed refugee claimants can be removed more quickly; ensuring that case decisions are more consistent and timely; and helping qualified immigrants get their professional credentials recognized.

Ms. Sgro also suggested there may be a "third category," or another way, for economic migrants who fail to qualify as immigrants under the point system to enter Canada without resorting to the refugee system — especially if they have skills that are needed here.

The minister also hopes to win approval for an unprecedented program that would give legal status to the "thousands and thousands" of undocumented workers who toil in Canada's underground economy.

She said in a lengthy interview in her Toronto constituency office that she has given Parliament's standing committee on citizenship and immigration the go-ahead "to have a serious look at the whole issue of undocumented workers.

"We have to look at how long these people have been here, have they put roots down, do they have an employer, are they filling a job need . . . then we have to set up a system."

Canada has 100,000 to 200,000 undocumented people. Many of them are failed refugee claimants or visitor overstays from Eastern Europe, Latin America and other countries, who work as cleaners, nannies and on construction. A growing political movement, including unions, academics and community groups, is lobbying to legalize these people, who cost the economy billions in unpaid taxes.

"Every time you talk about amnesty, everyone gets all uptight about it," Ms. Sgro said. "Clearly we need to have a policy that will deal with undocumented workers."

While acknowledging the challenge of working within a minority government, Ms. Sgro said she believes MPs support the need for change in her portfolio.

She could not be more specific about her planned reforms, except to say the refugee-determination system will become "more streamlined and more predictable." She did not commit to a merit-based appeal for failed claimants, which refugee advocates want. She said there are already various reviews, including an appeal to the Federal Court, a humanitarian and compassionate review and a pre-removal risk assessment.

"We've created a system that they [refugees] can appeal and appeal and appeal and be here for five years. I don't think we're doing them any favours," she said.

Ms. Sgro also emphasized that raising the number of immigrants to 245,000 a year from 220,000 is an important goal, and that the point system — whereby prospective immigrants must accrue 67 points for language and job skills — should be reviewed. "Who plays the magic game of figuring out the needs and the numbers?" she asked.

"Canadians don't get engaged in immigration unless it's a negative for the most part. It's important because the whole growth of the economy depends on it."

The minister pledged to help immigrants get their credentials recognized by working more closely with professional associations. She is meeting this week with her provincial counterparts to discuss this and to develop strategies to help foreign-trained doctors, engineers and nurses work in their fields.

Refugee advocates praised the idea of developing initiatives for economic migrants to enter Canada, and they support an amnesty for undocumented workers.

"I think there is some momentum toward a program to regularize the undocumented and to reform the refugee system, although it will be more difficult to find a compromise that will be supported by the NDP, the Bloc [Québécois] and the Conservatives," said Lorne Waldman, a Toronto immigration lawyer.

"If you can find a way to deal with the poor carpenter from Mendoza to come here, then you'll discourage him from using the refugee system as a way in."

Janet Dench, executive director of the Canadian Council for Refugees, hopes Ms. Sgro will focus as well on unduly long waiting times to process immigrants and their families.


http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ ... /National/

[Koko]

Ms. Sgro also emphasized that raising the number of immigrants to 245,000 a year from 220,000 is an important goal, and that the point system — whereby prospective immigrants must accrue 67 points for language and job skills — should be reviewed. "Who plays the magic game of figuring out the needs and the numbers?" she asked.

Това май означава че можем да очакване изненади по отношение федералната програма?

[IRA]

Местя темата във форум Canada.