A spike in refugee claims to Canada is angering some. However, I think it is about time we notice that conflicts like Darfur and the messes in Iraq and Afghanistan are only going to increase these numbers (most coming from South America right now). And, some of these messes are ours. We must keep our doors wide open while developing pro-active solutions to ending these conflicts so that these refugees can return home.
UNITED NATIONS — Immigration Minister Jason Kenney spoke Tuesday of “wide-scale and almost systematic abuse” of Canada’s refugee system after a United Nations report showed a 30% increase in the number of people seeking refugee or asylum status in Canada.
Much of the increase comes from a major rise in the numbers of Mexicans, Haitians and Colombians claiming they’ll face persecution if Canada sends them back to their respective countries, the UN says.
But the world body also says the United States saw a three per cent drop in the number of people asking for asylum in that country last year.
Overall, the percentage increase for Canada is almost three times the average for 51 countries studied in Asylum Levels and Trends in Industrialized Countries 2008 by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
“This is clearly an abuse of Canada’s generosity,” Mr. Kenney said during an interview. “It is a violation of the integrity of our immigration system.”
While there are definite social and economic concerns behind welcoming immigrants and refugees, it’s our duty, as a democratic country with the potential and power to rehabilitate these individuals in a new home, to do so. Moreover, while the recession might be swooping in, we are also a country distinctly short of skilled laborers. Offering educational opportunities to these newcomers is just another way to re-enforce the Canadian multicultural ideal while helping those who suffer far worse living conditions than all Canadians adapt.