On April 4, 1985, the Supreme Court of Canada came down with its long-awaited decision in what came to be known as the Singh Decision.  The Supreme Court ruled that the Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects everyone’s right to justice when life, liberty and security of the person are at stake. Since then, April 4th has been commemorated as Refugee Rights Day to ensure that a light continues to shine on the abuses suffered by refugees, as well as on the advances made in the protection of refugee rights in Canada as a result of the Singh decision.

This year also marks the 40th anniversary of Canada signing the United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. Over the past four decades, Canada has made many advances in the area of refugee rights. However, on the occasion of Refugee Rights Day, we must also reflect on the barriers asylum seekers continue to face and that our federal government has refused to remove.

One of the barriers faced by refugees is the limitation in appealing a negative decision. Currently when mistakes are made, there is no venue to rectify errors, and refugees are placed at risk of deportation to sometimes life-threatening situations.  Although the Immigration Refugee Protection Act, as passed by Parliament in 2001, does in fact grant refugees an appeal, the sections of the law which speak to this right have not been implemented.

It is time for the federal government to implement those sections and grant refugees their right to an appeal.

In addition to this legal obstruction, refugees who are some of the most vulnerable people in Canada, and in fact the world, face problems with long waits for family re-unification; are burdened with exceptionally high costs associated with resettlement; and are in many instances considered “stateless”.

When it comes to refugee rights, Canada was once known as a world leader. To achieve that status again — and more importantly to work towards being a more socially just society — the federal government must immediately address these legislative and political deficiencies.


In solidarity,

Wayne Hanley, National President