These numbers must continue to increase if Canada’s new Liberal government is to meet its current commitment to resettle 10,000 refugees by the end of 2015, and another 15,000 by 1 March 2016. Late last month, the government announced that it would not meet its campaign promise of welcoming 25,000 Syrian refugees to Canada by the end of this year. Minister McCallum has stated that the government is taking the extra time to “do it right,” ensuring that those arriving in Canada have access to proper housing and support.

The Liberal plan has also faced some criticism, as the Canadian government has requested prioritization of refugees who are said to pose a “low security risk,” such as “complete families, women at risk, gays and lesbians, and single men identified as vulnerable due to membership in the LGBT community or those who are accompanying parents as a part of a family.” Notably absent from this list are unaccompanied men, which some suggest will reinforce problematic stereotypes about Syrian men posing a threat to Canadian security.

Identifying Syrian refugees interested in resettling in Canada has also been a challenge. Only 3,000 out of the tens of thousands of refugees contacted showed up for required interviews. Minister McCallum stated in a recent news conference that there remains “huge enthusiasm” in Canada, and that this data may not be complete due to unreliable communication networks overseas.

In terms of processing, a report recently released explains that while efforts are increasing in Jordan and Lebanon, more complex circumstances have slowed operations in Turkey. Due to the migration of tens of thousands of Syrian refugees through Turkey en route to Europe, it is expected that many potential resettlement candidates are no longer in the country. The Turkish government has required more time to ensure that its candidate list is accurate, causing some delays.

As efforts continue, Minister McCallum has announced that journalists will be briefed by government officials on a weekly basis to keep Canadians informed on the resettlement plans.

(Sources)

The post Resettlement for Syrian Refugees Underway, but not without Challenges first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.

Increased media coverage of the conflict raging in Syria and the resulting migration crisis has led many to question whether Canada is doing enough. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reports that more than 4 million people have fled the Syrian civil war thus far, with another 7 million internally displaced. The scale of this emergency is staggering.

In 2013, then-Immigration Minister Kenney promised that Canada would resettle 1,300 Syrian refugees by the end of 2014. This commitment was met in March 2014, with 864 refugees being privately sponsored and the remaining 434 assisted by the government.

In January 2015, the Canadian government pledged to resettle a further 10,000 Syrian refugees over the next three years. Thus far, the government has resettled 1,074 people, of which 857 were private sponsorships. Prime Minister Harper has now pledged to resettle a further 10,000 refugees from Syria and Iraq over the next four years. Despite these commitments, many critics are voicing concerns over how these refugees will actually make it onto Canadian soil without a clear action plan.

Many may not realize the hurdles faced by refugees attempting resettlement in Canada. Processing times are lengthy, with the private sponsorship process taking at least a year or far longer, depending on where the application is submitted. With most Syrian refugees resettled to date relying on the private sponsorship system, these processing timelines pose a significant challenge. Since 2012, private sponsorship applications also require proof that a claimant has been granted Convention Refugee status by the UNHCR or a foreign state. This adds another barrier to those in desperate situations. Unfortunately, there is currently no mechanism in place to approve applications on an urgent basis.

Some have suggested that refugee claimants ought to be allowed to enter Canada with Temporary Resident Permits while their applications are in process, rather than be forced to await lengthy processing times. Other critics point to the past, highlighting that Canada has demonstrated the capacity and expertise to mobilize much more quickly than what is happening in response to the Syrian refugee crisis. In speaking with the CBC, Former Chair of the Immigration and Refugee Board, Peter Showler, argued that the Canadian government should send over an immigration team to complete urgent assessments and bring over 10,000 to 20,000 refugees immediately. Although there are no simple answers, with Europe facing the greatest influx of refugees since the Second World War, there is no doubt that magnitude of this migration crisis is enormous.

(Sources)

The post An Image Speaks a Thousand Words – The Tragedy of Young Alan Kurdi and the Syrian Refugee Crisis first appeared on Bellissimo Law Group.