Canadian Govt Introduces Legislation to Curb Asylum Claims
The Canadian government has introduced new legislation aimed at curbing asylum claims and granting authorities greater power to halt the processing of immigration applications. This move comes amid reports of misuse of the refugee system, with many claiming that the system is being exploited by individuals who are not genuine refugees.
The proposed law, which was introduced in the Canadian Parliament on June 10, 2021, would make significant changes to the way asylum claims are processed in Canada. Under the new law, anyone making an asylum claim more than a year after arriving in Canada (after June 24, 2020) would not have their claim referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB). This means that individuals who have been in Canada for more than a year would be deemed to have made a “late” asylum claim, and their application would be automatically rejected.
The government claims that this change is necessary to address the growing backlog of asylum claims in Canada, which currently stands at over 80,000. The IRB, which is responsible for processing asylum claims, has been facing significant challenges in recent years, including a shortage of judges and a lack of resources.
In addition to the new law, the government has also introduced measures to strengthen the integrity of the refugee system. For example, the proposed law would give authorities greater power to deport individuals who are found to have made false or misleading claims. It would also increase penalties for individuals who are found to have knowingly made false claims.
The government has argued that these changes are necessary to ensure that the refugee system is fair and efficient. “We need to make sure that our system is effective and that we’re not encouraging people to come to Canada without a legitimate reason,” said Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino in a statement.
However, many critics have argued that the new law is overly broad and would harm genuine refugees. “This legislation would deny protection to individuals who have been in Canada for more than a year, even if they are still in danger in their home country,” said Judy Sgro, a member of the Canadian Parliament. “It’s a really concerning development and we urge the government to reconsider.”
The opposition has also criticized the government for not providing adequate support to the IRB. “The IRB is already overwhelmed and understaffed, and this legislation would only make things worse,” said Randall Garrison, a member of the Canadian Parliament.
The government has also faced criticism for not providing adequate support to asylum seekers who are waiting for their claims to be processed. Many asylum seekers are forced to wait for months or even years for their claims to be processed, and many are forced to live in poverty or rely on charity to survive.
In response to these concerns, the government has announced plans to increase funding for the IRB and to provide additional support to asylum seekers. However, many critics argue that more needs to be done to address the root causes of the problem.
The proposed law is expected to be debated in the Canadian Parliament in the coming weeks. If passed, it would come into effect in 2022.
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