(Your Member of Parliament)
House of Commons
Ottawa ON, K1A 0A6

 

Date

Dear Ms/Mr. ___________,

 

As a citizen (organization) concerned about maintaining Canada’s proud humanitarian tradition of fairness towards refugees, I (we) wish to express our strong objection to the government’s recent measures that restrict access to protection in Canada for refugees.  (Briefly provide any further information about your personal, or your organization’s, interest in this issue, if applicable).

The government’s recent actions mean that Canada is turning its back on refugees by:
•    Introducing measures that deny access to 40% of claimants (visa requirements on Mexico and Czech Republic, and new broadening of the application of the Safe Third Country Agreement to nationals of moratoria countries).
•    Proposing a refugee reform that would further make the refugee determination system significantly less fair and more restrictive, compromising Canada’s obligations to protect refugees.
•    Talking about refugees in a way that fosters hostility towards refugee claimants and undermines public confidence in the refugee protection system.

Refugee determination is complex and challenging and the stakes (return to possible death or torture) are higher than any other in our legal system. The Canadian refugee system needs improvements, but its core elements, considered a model internationally, need to be safeguarded.  Key components in a fair refugee determination system include:
•    Fully qualified decision-makers, working within an independent tribunal.
•    The full examination of each claim on its individual merits
•    A right appeal on the merits for refused claimants

Canada has the first two key elements in place already, and they should not be abandoned. An appeal on the merits, as envisaged in the law since 2002, would further strengthen the Canadian refugee system.
 

We are looking to you to provide clear support for refugee protection in Canada and to provide a strong position in response to the government’s anti-refugee measures. (Propose a meeting or request a written response)

Yours sincerely,
Your name (and organization, if applicable)

(optional): CC. Hon. Jason Kenny, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism,

House of Commons, Ottawa ON, K1A 0A6

- (optional) include a copy of the CCR’s document ‘Lives in the Balance’ with your letter.  Available at: http://www.ccrweb.ca/documents/refugeeclaimsFAQ.pdf or on order from the CCR office using: http://www.ccrweb.ca/documents/publicationsorderform.pdf
OR:
- Mention that further information is available on the Canadian Council for Refugees’ website at: http://www.ccrweb.ca/fairdetermination.htm and http://www.ccrweb.ca/livesinthebalance.htm