Chandra Arya on Canada’s Refugee System: Genuine Support and Crackdown on Misuse
Chandra Arya, a Canadian member of Parliament, stated that while the government would support genuine refugee claimants, it would crack down on those misusing the ‘generous’ refugee system. Arya noted that many people arrive with valid visas and apply for asylum soon after landing in Canada.
In a post on X, Arya quoted a report by the Toronto Star, saying, “In 2023, Canada’s largest independent tribunal received 138,000 new claims, up by 129% from the year before and by 136% in 2019. In the first three months of 2024, already 46,700 claims were lodged, with a total of 186,000 cases in the queue.”
Arya added, “I am told there are many who are seeking refugee status for economic opportunities and are using the asylum route to jump the queue. Thousands of international students who do not meet the eligibility criteria for permanent residency are using this path to stay in Canada. We should support genuine refugee claimants but strictly deal with those misusing our generous refugee system.”
According to the Toronto Star, the Immigration and Refugee Board received 138,000 new claims in 2023, a 129% increase from 2022 and a 136% increase from 2019. By the end of March 2024, 46,700 claims were lodged, leading to a backlog of 186,000 cases.
Manon Brassard, chairperson of the Immigration and Refugee Board, told a Senate committee in June 2023, “It didn’t take long for me to realize with the team that we needed to maintain our ability to render fair decisions despite the growing intake. We need to do something about that.”
In the spring session of the Canadian parliament, the federal government attempted to pass an omnibus bill to tackle the backlog and streamline the process, but it failed. Critics argue that the board needs more decision-makers and that the government should offer alternatives to some people in the queue. Immigration lawyer Maureen Silcoff suggested offering immigration status to asylum seekers employed in fields with labor shortages, calling it a “win-win” situation.
Doubts Revealed
Chandra Arya -: Chandra Arya is a Member of Parliament (MP) in Canada. An MP is someone who is elected to represent the people in the government.
Canada’s Refugee System -: Canada’s Refugee System is a set of rules and processes that help people who are escaping danger in their home countries to find safety in Canada.
Genuine refugee claimants -: Genuine refugee claimants are people who are truly in danger in their home countries and need a safe place to live.
Misuse -: Misuse means using something in the wrong way. In this case, it means people pretending to be in danger just to move to Canada for other reasons.
Asylum claims -: Asylum claims are requests made by people asking to stay in a country because they are not safe in their own country.
Economic opportunities -: Economic opportunities are chances to get a job or make money. Some people might pretend to be refugees to get these opportunities.
Residency criteria -: Residency criteria are the rules that decide if someone can live in a country. If someone doesn’t meet these rules, they shouldn’t be allowed to stay.
Immigration and Refugee Board -: The Immigration and Refugee Board is a group in Canada that decides if someone can stay in the country as a refugee.
Backlog -: A backlog is a large number of things waiting to be done. Here, it means many refugee cases are waiting to be decided.
Streamline the process -: Streamline the process means making the steps easier and faster to help more people in less time.