Overseas Protection and Resettlement

on November 29, 2000, the Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH)representatives in attendance at the SAH Forum voted on and passed with an overwhelming majority three resolutions expressing their support for:

1. formally situating the SAH network within CCR, 2. submitting an SAH application for the In-Canada Service-Provider contract,
2. submitting this proposal under the umbrella of CCR;

1. By resolution passed in 1993 the formation of a joint committee of private sponsorship representatives and CIC personnel for the purpose of improving communications was mandated;
2. This committee as originally mandated has successfully negotiated the current Sponsorship Agreement and is now engaged in the drafting of a new version of the agreement, as well as having been involved in working at a number of other on-going issues related to the private sponsorship of refugees;
3. CIC personnel present at these meetings have been inconsistent in number and in the level of decision-making power, resulting in a lack of policy-making ability as well as results-oriented discussion;
4. The SAH representatives have contributed far beyond a normal volunteer capacity in the hope of achieving results in the area of policy making;

1. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has expressed; a desire for a coordinated continuum in the refugee sponsorship process;
2. CIC has issued a tender for proposal for an In-Canada Service Provider (ISP), the latest with a closing date of May 29, 2001;
3. The ISP tender should have been posted for the public after budget was secured;
4. The RSTP was extended to June 30, 2001 to facilitate transition to the ISP;
5. There is another indefinite delay in the July 1, 2001 starting date for the ISP;
6. There is a significant increase in new Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAH) to whom RSTP/ISP would be indispensable in order for them to carry out their work effectively;
7. The training and resources developed by the RSTP have enhanced SAHs effectiveness in refugee sponsorship;
8. There will be a significant gap with the dissolution of the RSTP on June 30, 2001, which will result in the loss of infrastructure and knowledgeable staff;

1. The CCR has become increasingly involved in international activities and consultations with respect to refugee protection, resettlement and integration;
2. International forums and discussions impact Canada’s own policies and programs within the global context;

1. The government’s document “Building on a Strong Foundation” calls for closer working relationships with partners, and SAHs are key partners in the private sponsorship program;
2. Current timelines for the completion of concepts such as Private Partner Sponsorship and Corporate Sponsorship do not allow sufficient time for consultation, discussion and input with partners.

1. The situation of refugees in Pakistan is increasingly precarious;
2. Conditions necessary for repatriation as a durable or even physically safe solution will not be established in Afghanistan for some time to come;
3. The level of instability requires a special level of response from all countries that provide humanitarian support and resettlement options for Afghans externally displaced;
4. The Canadian Government is in a position to respond to the situation of these persons with concrete actions;
5. A clear response by the Canadian Government will send a strong positive message about Afghan refugees to the Canadian public;

1. Large numbers of letters, e-mails and faxes have been received by CCR members alleging torture in Ethiopia by the government and its agencies;
2. Ethiopia is a signatory to the UN Convention against Torture;

Liberians in the Krisan Zansule camp in Ghana have not been supplied any humanitarian assistance (including food and medical care) by UNHCR since June 2000;

1. CIC is committed to implementing a model for referral agencies as one of the access control mechanisms for identifying refugees for resettlement to Canada;
2. CCR has expressed some concerns with how the potential models will be designed and implemented particularly with respect to controlling the ability of refugees to access resettlement as a means of protection and as a durable solution and with the impact and implications of these models for the referral partner agencies;

1. Twenty-seven member organizations of CCR responded to a CCR request by providing anecdotal information about problems arising with the use of the Interim Federal Health (IFH) program;
2. The report developed by CCR was raised with CIC in a conference call at which time CIC did not recognize many of the problems as indicators of systemic weaknesses within the IFH program;