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Before we get into Canada’s refugee system, you need to understand the concept of refugees. Most of the people confuse refugees with immigrants and think these are two different words used for the same group of people. It is merely a misconception and we want to make it correct before we proceed further.
Consider the 1951 Refugee Convention’s documented definition of refugee:
”Someone unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion.”
We conclude that refugees are people who are threatened by war, persecution, natural calamity and forced to leave their homeland. They can’t go back to their country even if they want to.
Canadian Protection for Refugees
Like every other developed and civilised country, Canada has stepped forward to protect the refugees. Canada’s refugee system is majorly divided into two sections.
- Protection for refugees who are residing outside Canada
- Protection for refugees that are residing within Canada
The Refugee and Humanitarian Resettlement Program are for the people who are residing outside Canada. On the other hand, The In-Canada Asylum Program is for the people who ask for refugee protection within Canada.
Refugee and Humanitarian Resettlement Program
- When someone leaves his homeland and come to Canada, he can’t get the nationality or any help immediately. Keeping n view this critical situation, The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) suggests a solution to this problem: resettlement. But unfortunately, no one can apply for resettlement directly to Canada. One has to go through the strenuous struggle and has to put enormous efforts to complete the process of resettlement.
In this situation, many private organizations come forward to help people in starting their life all over again in Canada. These organizations and sponsors are working in collaboration with the Canadian government.
These sponsors or organizations are commonly called “Sponsorship Agreement Holder”, in Canada. They are a helping hand of the Canadian government when it comes to settling the refugees in Canada. But they are not alone in this work. Some other active groups working for the same cause are:
- Groups of Five
- Community Sponsors
These groups don’t work directly or sponsor any refugee rather they find sponsors and programs for the refugees. As a refugee, one can take help from these people to find better sponsors.
Another program for the refugees that are from outside Canada is The Blended Visa Office-Referred (BVOR) Program. This program can help only those refugees that are identified by the UNHCR.
In-Canada Asylum Program
If you fear persecution then this program is for you. Similarly, if you are getting brutal treatment in your homeland, you can take help from this program.
On the other hand, you are not eligible for this program if you were involved in a serious crime or if other Canadian refugee programs refuse to help you.
Canadian Government’s Integration services
Either you have come from overseas to seek Canadian Nationality or you are granted protection by the Canadian government as a refugee, the Canadian integration services can help you with everything. From residence to the source of earning, you can take guidance by seeking the integration services.
Guide and Income Support for Resettled Refugee
The Canadian government has designed a complete Resettlement Assistance Program for resettling of refugees. This program is helping the refugees in finding a good source of earning and settling in a new state.
Before you find a source of earning, the Canadian government provides income support to their refugees. This income support is for those who can’t pay for their basic needs even. This income supports lasts for one year. But if one finds a job during this period, he can refuse the income support.
In addition to that, the refugees get a residence, food, transport and other basic facilities at discounted rates. These rates are fixed by the Canadian government.
In short, the Resettlement Assistance Program supports a refugee until he/she gets to settle in a new state.
We hope you find our guide beneficial and easy to comprehend. If this is so, don’t forget to share it with your friends and family.
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