Addressing Addressing MythsMyths

The Truth AboutThe Truth About

Refugees and Refugees and Immigration in Immigration in

CanadaCanada

Myth #1:Myth #1: Canada Canada receives more than its receives more than its share of refugeesshare of refugees

In Fact…In Fact…

Myth #1Myth #1 Many other Western countries Many other Western countries

receive more refugee claimants receive more refugee claimants than Canada, both in absolute than Canada, both in absolute numbers and per capita.numbers and per capita. Year after Year after year, Germany, the United year, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States Kingdom and the United States have each received more refugee have each received more refugee claims than Canada. claims than Canada. Germany, the Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland are 3 Netherlands and Switzerland are 3 countries with more refugee claims countries with more refugee claims per capita than Canada in 1998 a per capita than Canada in 1998 a trend still in place todaytrend still in place today..

Myth #1Myth #1

The majority of the world's The majority of the world's refugees come from - refugees come from - and remain and remain inin - countries of the developing - countries of the developing worldworld. Only a small minority of . Only a small minority of refugees and asylum seekers make refugees and asylum seekers make claims in the world’s richest claims in the world’s richest countries, including Canada. countries, including Canada. In In 2006, Tanzania alone hosted more 2006, Tanzania alone hosted more refugees than Canada, France, refugees than Canada, France, Australia, the United States, Australia, the United States, Germany, Spain and Japan Germany, Spain and Japan combinedcombined. .

Myth #1Myth #1

While Syria, Chad, Kenya, While Syria, Chad, Kenya, Thailand, China, Iran and Thailand, China, Iran and Jordan each hosted more Jordan each hosted more than 250,000 refugees in than 250,000 refugees in 2006, Canada hosted only 2006, Canada hosted only 43,500. 43,500.

Myth #1Myth #1

The number of The number of refugees Canada refugees Canada accepts each year is accepts each year is less than a tenth of less than a tenth of 1% 1% of our populationof our population..

Myth #1Myth #1 Canada donates far less per capita Canada donates far less per capita

in support for refugees abroad in support for refugees abroad than Norway, Sweden, Denmark, than Norway, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands and Ireland.  In the Netherlands and Ireland.  In 2006 Norway donated over 9 2006 Norway donated over 9 times more money per capita than times more money per capita than Canada to international refugee Canada to international refugee aid agencies.  Per capita, Canada aid agencies.  Per capita, Canada was only the twelfth largest donor was only the twelfth largest donor to international refugee aid to international refugee aid agencies in 2006 agencies in 2006

Myth #2:Myth #2: Almost Almost everyone who makes everyone who makes a refugee claim in a refugee claim in Canada is accepted Canada is accepted and those who are and those who are refused have refused have innumerable appeals. innumerable appeals.

In Fact…In Fact…

Myth #2Myth #2

Less than half of refugee Less than half of refugee claimants are granted refugee claimants are granted refugee statusstatus. In 1998 44% of . In 1998 44% of refugee claims were accepted. refugee claims were accepted. The average acceptance rate The average acceptance rate over a period of 5 years over a period of 5 years (1994-1998) was 48%.(1994-1998) was 48%.

Myth #2Myth #2 Despite the fact that refugee Despite the fact that refugee

determination deals with matters determination deals with matters of life and liberty, there is in fact no of life and liberty, there is in fact no appeal on the merits for refused appeal on the merits for refused claimantsclaimants. Review by the Federal . Review by the Federal Court is limited in scope and few Court is limited in scope and few claimants are even given claimants are even given permission to be heard by the permission to be heard by the court. There is a risk review, but it court. There is a risk review, but it is very narrow and rejects over is very narrow and rejects over 95% of applicants.95% of applicants.

Interestingly…Interestingly…

““Everyone has the right to Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from countries asylum from persecution.”persecution.”

- Universal Declaration of Human - Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 14Rights, Article 14

Myth #3:Myth #3: Refugee Refugee claimants can prolong claimants can prolong their stay in Canada their stay in Canada indefinitely because of indefinitely because of government red tape.government red tape.

In fact…In fact…

Myth #3Myth #3

There is very little a refused There is very little a refused refugee claimant can do to refugee claimant can do to delay removaldelay removal. Even an . Even an application for application for humanitarian consideration humanitarian consideration does not postpone removal.does not postpone removal.

Myth #3Myth #3

Over 5,000 refused Over 5,000 refused refugee claimants were refugee claimants were removed from Canada in removed from Canada in 1998. Many other 1998. Many other claimants left voluntarily.claimants left voluntarily.

Myth #4:Myth #4: Refugees who Refugees who come to Canada using come to Canada using false documents are false documents are bogus refugees.bogus refugees.

In fact…In fact…

Myth #4Myth #4

For many refugees fleeing For many refugees fleeing persecution or death, a false travel persecution or death, a false travel document is the only means of document is the only means of escapeescape. . Often governments refuse Often governments refuse to issue passports to known political to issue passports to known political dissidents - or imprison them if they dissidents - or imprison them if they applyapply. The fact that a claimant uses . The fact that a claimant uses a false travel document tells us a false travel document tells us nothing about whether the person is nothing about whether the person is a refugee or not.a refugee or not.

Myth #4Myth #4

Myth #4Myth #4

Because refugees often Because refugees often cannot obtain all the cannot obtain all the necessary papers, necessary papers, international law prohibits international law prohibits governments from governments from penalizing refugees who penalizing refugees who use false documents.use false documents.

Myth #4Myth #4

Most governments, including the Most governments, including the Canadian government, require many Canadian government, require many travellers to have visas, creating antravellers to have visas, creating an

enormous obstacle for refugees enormous obstacle for refugees trying to escape persecution. The trying to escape persecution. The more governments put up measures more governments put up measures to stop people travelling to their to stop people travelling to their territory, the more refugees are territory, the more refugees are forced to use false documents and forced to use false documents and turn to smugglers to help them turn to smugglers to help them escape.escape.

Myth #4Myth #4

MYTH #5:MYTH #5: Real refugees Real refugees are those who wait in are those who wait in refugee camps refugee camps overseas. Those who overseas. Those who make a claim in Canada make a claim in Canada jump the line and are jump the line and are not as deserving. not as deserving.

In fact…In fact…

Myth #5Myth #5

Refugees are people who have Refugees are people who have been forced from their homes by been forced from their homes by human rights abuses. All refugees human rights abuses. All refugees have a right to protection, have a right to protection, wherever they arewherever they are. Saying that . Saying that some refugees are more deserving some refugees are more deserving than others is the same as saying than others is the same as saying that some human beings are of that some human beings are of less value than others. less value than others.

Myth #5Myth #5

We should not expect refugees We should not expect refugees to wait passively for someone to to wait passively for someone to help them. Refugees do what help them. Refugees do what they can to save their lives and they can to save their lives and the lives of their familiesthe lives of their families. . Refugees are survivors - and of Refugees are survivors - and of those who make it to Canada, those who make it to Canada, most have already survived a most have already survived a lot! lot!

Myth #5Myth #5

Myth #5Myth #5

Canada has specific Canada has specific obligations towards any obligations towards any refugees on Canadian refugees on Canadian territory. Sending refugees territory. Sending refugees back to persecution would back to persecution would violate international human violate international human rights standards.rights standards.

Myth #6:Myth #6: Refugee Refugee claimants pose threats claimants pose threats to Canada's security. to Canada's security.

In fact…In fact…

Myth #6Myth #6

Refugee claimants are Refugee claimants are not threats to security – not threats to security – they are seeking security they are seeking security and protection from and protection from threats to their own livesthreats to their own lives. .

Myth #6Myth #6

It is far more difficult to enter It is far more difficult to enter Canada as a refugee than as a Canada as a refugee than as a visitor, because the refugee visitor, because the refugee determination process involves determination process involves security checks by CSIS and the security checks by CSIS and the RCMP, fingerprinting and interviews. RCMP, fingerprinting and interviews. It is not likely that a person It is not likely that a person intending to commit a violent act intending to commit a violent act would expose themselves to such would expose themselves to such detailed examinations. detailed examinations.

And now for some And now for some Comedic Relief…Comedic Relief…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOm-15621bs

Russell Peters: How to Become a Canadian Citizen6 minutes

Source:Source: Canadian Council for RefugeesCanadian Council for Refugees

http://www.ccrweb.ca/documents/FFacts.htm

Accessed Dec 19, 2014Accessed Dec 19, 2014