What do you need to know about Bill C-31, Protecting Canadas Immigration System Act ? 1. What is Bill C-31?

What will it do? Bill C-31 is a new law that proposes to dramatically change the way that Canada welcomes immigrants and refugees. Bill C-31 will affect individuals and families who flee their home country and come to Canada to ask for protection. Canada has a system in place to hear the stories of these individuals (called refugee claimants) and to decide if they meet the international and Canadian definitions of needing refugee protection: Are they refugees? Should Canada offer them a new, permanent home? Bill C-31 will change the way that Canada decides who is a refugee. The bill proposes to treat refugee claimants differently depending on the country they came from or the method they used to come to Canada. If passed, it means: Putting some refugee claimants in jail for one year, if the government calls them irregular arrivals (Refugee claimants wouldnt be given the benefit of the doubt that they were forced to use a smuggler to escape persecution). Less time for some refugee claimants, depending on their country of origin, to prepare to tell their story to Canadian officials and to gather documents that support their story. No chance for some refugee claimants to appeal a poor decision or to share new information to support their story.

In addition, several sections of Bill C-31 violate Canadian law (the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms) and international law (the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the Convention on the Rights of the Child). 2. Why is it important to talk about Bill C-31? Bill C-31 will: a) Put Canadian permanent residents at risk. A person who came to Canada as a refugee or refugee claimant and doesnt yet have their Canadian citizenship could have their permanent status taken away and be deported. This will affect people who Canadian authorities decide no longer need protection in Canada as a refugee. This also includes people who have been in Canada for many years and have built successful lives here. b) Keep some refugee claimants in jail for one year without the possibility of review. Refugee claimants who are designated irregular arrivals will be put in jail for one year. They will have to gather documents and prepare to tell their story to Canadian officials while they are there. c) Separate refugee families for long periods. Designated irregular arrivals will not be allowed to travel overseas or to apply to have their family join them in Canada for 5 years, even if Canada offers them protection as a refugee. d) Deny refugees a fair chance to tell their stories. Bill C-31 isnt flexible. It will allow a maximum of 60 days for refugee claimants to prepare to tell their stories to a Canadian official. People who have suffered torture and other forms of violence and discrimination may need more time and flexibility. e) Allow the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration to designate certain countries safe, despite the dangers for some people.

Refugee claimants from countries that the Minister considers safe will face an even faster process (45 days instead of 30). While a country may be safe for many of its citizens, others in the same country may not be. For example, Canada discourages tourism to certain regions of Mexico. If Canada considers Mexico a safe country, a refugee claimant fleeing organized crime from that region may not have enough time to prepare their story for officials. No exceptions. Is that fair? Bill C-31 is a complex law and the Harper government hasnt asked Canadians if this is how we want to welcome refugees to Canada. 3. What can I do? See over to find out what you can do about Bill C-31 and for refugees near you.