1 Protection First: How Canada Selects Refugees for Resettlement Photo: Mae La Oon Refugee Camp, Thailand Vancouver Public Library and Canadian Red Cross “Taking Refuge Among Us” A Story to Tell and a Place for the Telling Series Vancouver, B.C. - January 15, 2008 Debra Pressé, Director, Resettlement Division, Refugees Branch Citizenship and Immigration Canada Citoyenneté et Immigration Canada

2 Global Refugee Situation 9.9 million refugees in million have been in exile for over 5 years and most are hosted in developing countries. Only 100,000 refugees are resettled annually. Less than 1% are resettled 18 countries resettle refugees Canada one of the largest resettlement countries (about 10% of global resettlement; BC receives about 9% of those resettled to Canada)

3 Canada’s Resettlement Program Global program: 10,000 – 11,000 resettled refugees annually Global numbers static but targets within geographic areas shift Two streams Government assisted – 7, ,500 Privately sponsored – 3, ,500 All entitled to settlement assistance support

4 Selection Principles and Priorities Global program but Canada can’t admit all refugees. Decisions about commitments based on humanitarian objectives, protection need, capacity and resources. Priorities for Canada: Physical protection needs Iraqis, Eritreans, Colombians Strategic use of resettlement Bhutanese, Somali Managing down protracted refugee situations Karen, Afghans

5 Decision-Making Process Domestic Levels and FPT consultations Humanitarian objectives Refugees = 4%-6% of total immigration International Annual target setting exercise with: –UNHCR –overseas embassies and –other resettlement countries

6 Past Priorities: Top Ten Source Countries

7 Priorities for 2008 and Beyond In 2008, Canada will resettle: 1,000 Karen refugees from Burma (Myanmar) 2,000 Iraqi refugees in Syria and Jordan 900 Afghan refugees in Central Asia 900 Afghan refugees in Central Asia 1,900 Colombians in Colombia and Latin America 2,200 African refugees from the Horn of Africa and Great Lakes region 2,000 others from around the world Starting in 2009 Canada will resettle: 5,000 Bhutanese refugees in Nepal

8 Destining in Canada Provincial targets for government sponsored refugees Refugees are ‘matched’ to a city Government sponsored refugees matched to one of 23 centres in Canada Privately sponsored refugees matched to family/sponsor’s city

9 Resettlement to Vancouver About 5% of all immigrants to BC are refugees 1,000 refugees arrive Vancouver annually: 800 Government Assisted Refugees Balance - Privately Sponsored, asylum claimants, dependants Afghanistan is top source country for resettled refugees. In 2006, second source country was Burma (Karens).

10 Settlement Impacts Youth: –40% of resettled refugees are under the age of 18. Refugee youth often do not have the same level of formal education as Canadian youth their age. Health: –Resettled refugees across Canada are arriving with significant health concerns. Examples: malnutrition, psychosocial issues, lack of prior dental care. Other barriers: –On average, upon arrival, resettled refugees have less formal education, less official language ability, and larger families than other immigrants.

11 Photo credit: Vancouver Refugee Services Alliance ( Questions?