Welfare rates for government-assisted refugees shot up following landmark changes to Canada’s immigration law, says Statistics Canada..Analysts made the comments in a StatsCan report titled From Adaptability To Vulnerability: Changes In Admission Criteria And Refugee Participation In Social Assistance..More than a third of government-assisted refugees remain on welfare a decade after landing in Canada — a direct response to 2001 landmark changes in immigration laws, the report said..“Because of these changes, refugees admitted after the act, may be more prone to relying on social assistance,” the report said. “This is less likely for privately sponsored refugees who are more likely to have family or friends in Canada and are better positioned to find employment through sponsors.”.Blacklock’s Reporter said Parliament enacted Bill C-11 the Immigration And Refugee Protection Act in 2001 that waived requirements for refugees to prove they were unlikely to rely on social assistance. Prior to this, the 1976 Immigration Act required foreigners to show proof of work skills and economic independence..The StatsCan report based its findings on welfare rates for refugees aged 20 to 54, who arrived in Canada before and after Parliament rewrote immigration statutes twenty years ago. .Two years after arrival, 72% of government-assisted refugees relied on welfare, figures show..After five years, half of government-assisted refugees, 50%, took welfare. The rate after 10 years was 35% compared to 23% of privately-sponsored refugees..“We know there are many people who have all kinds of opinions about the bill but there is no question Bill C-11 is a big improvement over what exists today,” then-Immigration Minister Elinor Caplan told the Commons in 2001..“It is a complete overhaul of the immigration and refugee determination system,” said Caplan. “It will allow us to be faster while we continue to be fair to those who come to us and ask for protection.”.Then-Canadian Alliance Leader Stockwell Day said refugees could “remain in Canada as long as their claim is working its way through the cumbersome refugee determination process” and “claim Canadian social benefits, applying for welfare and health cards” at the same time..“Every time we talk about the gaping holes in our refugee determination system the government assures us that all will be well,” Day said. “It makes the matter worse.”.At a 2002 hearings of the Commons immigration committee, the National Indo-Canadian Council said Parliament should have promoted more private sponsorship of immigrants due to better outcomes. .“Why not allow a Canadian citizen or a Canadian permanent resident to sponsor one individual regardless of their relationship?” testified David Davis, a council lawyer..“As long as that person is willing to financially sponsor that individual and make sure they look after their interests and they don’t go on welfare I wouldn’t think there would be a concern from Immigration Canada.”.Rachel Emmanuel is an Ottawa Parliamentary reporter for the Western Standard
Welfare rates for government-assisted refugees shot up following landmark changes to Canada’s immigration law, says Statistics Canada..Analysts made the comments in a StatsCan report titled From Adaptability To Vulnerability: Changes In Admission Criteria And Refugee Participation In Social Assistance..More than a third of government-assisted refugees remain on welfare a decade after landing in Canada — a direct response to 2001 landmark changes in immigration laws, the report said..“Because of these changes, refugees admitted after the act, may be more prone to relying on social assistance,” the report said. “This is less likely for privately sponsored refugees who are more likely to have family or friends in Canada and are better positioned to find employment through sponsors.”.Blacklock’s Reporter said Parliament enacted Bill C-11 the Immigration And Refugee Protection Act in 2001 that waived requirements for refugees to prove they were unlikely to rely on social assistance. Prior to this, the 1976 Immigration Act required foreigners to show proof of work skills and economic independence..The StatsCan report based its findings on welfare rates for refugees aged 20 to 54, who arrived in Canada before and after Parliament rewrote immigration statutes twenty years ago. .Two years after arrival, 72% of government-assisted refugees relied on welfare, figures show..After five years, half of government-assisted refugees, 50%, took welfare. The rate after 10 years was 35% compared to 23% of privately-sponsored refugees..“We know there are many people who have all kinds of opinions about the bill but there is no question Bill C-11 is a big improvement over what exists today,” then-Immigration Minister Elinor Caplan told the Commons in 2001..“It is a complete overhaul of the immigration and refugee determination system,” said Caplan. “It will allow us to be faster while we continue to be fair to those who come to us and ask for protection.”.Then-Canadian Alliance Leader Stockwell Day said refugees could “remain in Canada as long as their claim is working its way through the cumbersome refugee determination process” and “claim Canadian social benefits, applying for welfare and health cards” at the same time..“Every time we talk about the gaping holes in our refugee determination system the government assures us that all will be well,” Day said. “It makes the matter worse.”.At a 2002 hearings of the Commons immigration committee, the National Indo-Canadian Council said Parliament should have promoted more private sponsorship of immigrants due to better outcomes. .“Why not allow a Canadian citizen or a Canadian permanent resident to sponsor one individual regardless of their relationship?” testified David Davis, a council lawyer..“As long as that person is willing to financially sponsor that individual and make sure they look after their interests and they don’t go on welfare I wouldn’t think there would be a concern from Immigration Canada.”.Rachel Emmanuel is an Ottawa Parliamentary reporter for the Western Standard
