|
Each year Canada accepts between 20,000 and 30,000 Convention refugees and other displaced persons. These numbers are expected to continue due to Canada's international humanitarian commitments. Convention refugee is a person with a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group. Because of conditions in their home country and their fear of persecution, they are unwilling or unable to return.
This definition has become part of Canada's Immigration Act. All policy and practice regarding refugees in Canada is determined and delivered by the Refugees Branch of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) or the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB). Canada recognizes 2 types of refugees:
Persons who, even before their arrival to Canada, have been sponsored by the government of Canada or by a private group. They are called "resettled refugees." They might have been waiting in one of the world's many emergency refugee camps, where they were fortunate enough to be selected for resettlement in Canada. People in this category are granted permanent residency (landed status) when they arrive in Canada.
Persons who make their own way out of the country or situation they are fleeing. After reaching Canada by land, sea or air, they apply for asylum through the in-land refugee determination system. If they are carrying valid identity documents, they can live in the community while they await the hearing that is the first step of the refugee determination system. If their documents are missing or are suspicious, they are held in detention. They enter a process of waiting while it is determined that they are refugees, after which they might get permanent resident status. Citizenship and Immigration Canada selects persons seeking resettlement in Canada based on three classes of refugees:
Convention Refugees Abroad Class
Country of Asylum Class
Source Country Class |
