1. Trends in Refugee Settlement in Alberta: Understanding how global and national contexts impact settlement in Alberta
Marisa Berry Méndez, CCR Settlement Policy Director
Alberta Integration Summit, October

2. Today’s presentation Global refugee context
Alberta Integration Summit, October
Today’s presentation
Global refugee context
Global Resettlement situation
Canadian and Alberta context
Refugee claimants
Resettlement
Refugee campaign

3. Alberta Integration Summit, October 30 2017
37 countries admitted 189,300 refugees
(less than 0.1% of global refugee population)

4. Alberta Integration Summit, October 30 2017
New crises emerging…
582,000 Rohingya refugees estimated to have fled to Bangladesh since August 25, 2017
UN estimate as of 17 October 2017

5. Global Resettlement In 2016, 37 countries admitted 189,300 refugees
Alberta Integration Summit, October
Global Resettlement
In 2016, 37 countries admitted 189,300 refugees
USA admitted 96,900 (51%)
Canada admitted 46,700 (25%)
Australia admitted 27,600 (15%)
These 3 countries resettlement 90% of refugees

6. Among those resettled:
Alberta Integration Summit, October
Among those resettled:
33% Syria
12% Democratic Republic of Congo
8% Iraq
6% Somalia
4 nationalities make up 59% of total

7. Alberta Integration Summit, October 30 2017
2018 Resettlement Needs
Global resettlement needs are estimated by UNHCR at 1.2 million persons from 63 countries Places available for 2018: 93,000 (43% decrease from places available in 2017)
Give context especially of US decrease allotted spaces.

8. Alberta Integration Summit, October 30 2017
Focus on Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa has a need of 510,000, but only 18,000 places are available.
Emergencies: Central African Republic, South Sudan
Protracted situations: Congolese, Somali and Eritrean refugees
All according to UNHCR
Concerns around lack of resettlement spaces, and impact especially in certain regions.
Part of why number is low is because of preferences and requests from receiving countries – would be great if receiving countries would just take anyone!
Say something here about Operation Syria? E.g. that when numbers are increased for one population, this increase shouldn’t cost spaces for those from other places.

9. Annual Tripartite Consultations on Resettlement (ATCR)
Alberta Integration Summit, October
Annual Tripartite Consultations on Resettlement (ATCR)
Held in June, in Geneva
CCR coordinates Canadian NGO Focal Point
Key themes highlighted by CCR:
Equity (especially Africa)
Additionality
Confronting racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia
Our main opportunity to give input at the global level is through ATCR.
Canadian government and NGOs participate.
NGOs make a statement and contribute to discussion. CCR inputs into the statement and makes suggestions for agenda
ADDITIONALITY: Privately sponsored refugees are over and above the refugees resettled by the government (Government Assisted Refugees). Canadians want to know that their government is fulfilling its responsibility, on behalf of all Canadians, to protect refugees through resettlement, and that any refugees they sponsor are additional to those resettled by the government.

10. Key current themes at ATCR
Alberta Integration Summit, October
Key current themes at ATCR
Expanding resettlement opportunities (but US pulling back)
Complementary Pathways
Want to get more countries to do resettlement, or countries to give more spaces.
Complementary pathways - looking for solutions other than resettlement (intended to be IN ADDITION, not instead of resettlement). At CCR for example we are asking if education could be an alternative pathway.
An international organization, Talent Beyond Boundaries, is looking at skilled worker opportunities, including in Canada. They are hoping to match refugees with jobs they have the right skills for.

11. Canadian context Alberta Integration Summit, October 30 2017
Expanding resettlement and establishing complementary pathways for better protection and solutions for refugees.

12. Refugee Levels 2017 Protected Persons in Canada and Dependants Abroad
Alberta Integration Summit, October
Refugee Levels 2017
Protected Persons in Canada and Dependants Abroad
15,000
Resettled Refugees
25,000
Government-Assisted
7,500
Blended Visa Office-Referred
1,500
Privately Sponsored
16,000
Total
40,000
Top line is for accepted refugee claimants – will be looking for it to increase in 2018 to make room for increased numbers of claimants
Resettled refugees – overall numbers are obviously down from 2016 (big Syrian movement) but somewhat up from 2015 levels. Disappointment was with 7,500 GARs – which has been the lowest number we have seen for many years.

13. Refugee Claims Alberta Integration Summit, October 30 2017
Numbers fluctuate - in 2001 was higher than this year so far.
Numbers in Alberta are relatively low compared to some other provinces like Ontario and Quebec,
However since the IRB is starved for resources and getting a hearing could take longer than it is supposed to, secondary migration of refugee claimants awaiting their hearings may become an issue.
As long as claimants aren’t eligible for federally-funded settlement services, this is something the province might want to consider stepping up for.
Mention practical resources for members which include webinar and print resource (upcoming) on what front-line workers need to know about working with refugee claimants (also: citizenship, criminality implications on immigration status, age of dependents, and family reunification)

14. Resettlement, Jan 2015 - Aug 2017 BVOR GAR PSR Total Calgary 160 1,735
Alberta Integration Summit, October
Resettlement, Jan Aug 2017
BVOR
GAR
PSR
Total
Calgary
160
1,735
3,305
5,205
Edmonton
190
2,255
2,185
4,630
Lethbridge 10
415 60
485
Red Deer
330 45
380
Medicine Hat
265 --
275
Brooks 5 85 30
125
Wood Buffalo - 65
Grande Prairie 25
Other 75
110
200
480
5,090
5,825
11,390
Open Data statistics,
Canada - Admissions of Resettled Refugees by Province/Territory and Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) of Intended Destination and Immigration Category, January August 2017

15. Resettlement: long delays
Alberta Integration Summit, October
Resettlement: long delays
In 2017 and 2018, resettled refugees more likely to have waited long time for processing
Example processing out of Ethiopia
GAR: 43 months
PSR: 74 months
In both PSR and GARs there were people whose applications were maybe set aside while Syrians were being processed.
End 2016, there were 6,400 PSR applications that had been waiting 3 years or more.
Processing times are from IRCC website, current times (which refer to arrivals over the past 12 months).

16. Alberta Integration Summit, October 30 2017
Family reunification
Including: One year window + dependants of refugees
Long delays, long processing times
Difference in priority for economic immigrants vs. for refugees
CCR case management for separated children
As all those involved in newcomer settlement know, family reunification is virtually a requirement for settlement – it is very difficult for newcomers to settle and integrate here if they are separated from their family members. Separation can cause a lot of anxiety, and has mental health consequences, but also other related consequences such as labour market integration impacts.
Government has committed to 6 months for processing of family members of economic immigrants – so this is possible, but refugee family reunification is not prioritized in the same way, and delays of many years are common.
Separated children: CCR has a longstanding agreement with IRCC that CCR can identify these cases to IRCC for expediting.

17. Transportation Loans 94% of GARs, 88% of PSRs received loans
Alberta Integration Summit, October
Transportation Loans
94% of GARs, 88% of PSRs received loans
Understanding is limited
Repaying the loan is difficult
Many refugees must quit language learning or other school to work to repay their loan
Remain an important barrier to settlement for GARs and PSRs
Refugees have to pay back travel costs and cost of immigration medical exam plus interest.
Government’s own evaluation showed that it had a negative impact on refugees, including reducing access to settlement services.
Understanding: visa offices spend 1-5 minutes explaining the loan to recipients, and research shows that only 56% of refugees understood they had to start paying back the loan within 30 days after arrival.
Impact on settlement – many must take an entry level job to work to pay back loan, and don’t have time for language learning or other education and training programs to help them get better jobs, also almost 50% couldn’t avail themselves of integration services because they were working.

18. Transportation Loans: changes
Alberta Integration Summit, October
Transportation Loans: changes
As of April 2017, IFH covers Immigration Medical Exam as well as medical escorts (if required).
Government has published PROPOSED changes to:
eliminate the interest;
defer the loan repayment start date from 30 days to one year;
extend the repayment period for loans by two years.
NB we do not know when these changes might take effect.

19. CCR vision: Refugee campaign
Alberta Integration Summit, October
CCR vision: Refugee campaign
Objectives for Canada’s leadership:
Resettle 20,000 government-assisted refugees annually.
Introduce special measures to process the privately sponsored refugee (PSR) backlog by 2018, to open the door to increased refugee sponsorships by Canadians.
Make reforms to the refugee determination system so that it is fair and efficient.
GARs:
Need to do more in context of global refugee crisis
Capacity is there – talking to members across the country (including many in the room) it became clear that operation Syria showed us that the capacity is there, and that the folks in the settlement sector think it’s a shame that they’re losing all this capacity with the downfall in numbers
PSRs – mention additionality
Waiting to see what upcoming immigration levels will look like (but 2017 numbers represented a significant decrease.
Claimants – the current concern is around IRCC’s review of the IRB, calling into question the importance of having an independent quasi-judicial body processing and hearing claims. So our position is that the IRB must continue its work, and be better resourced to do so.

20. Campaign focus Two levels: Public opinion Government decision-makers
Alberta Integration Summit, October
Campaign focus
Two levels:
Public opinion
Government decision-makers
Public support: Welcoming attitudes towards refugees in all categories among Canadians, also creating a context in which government feels there is the support necessary to increase numbers of refugees.
Policy advocacy: Canadian government adopts recommendations for resettled refugees and reforms to the refugee determination system
Focusing on positive messages.

21. Public opinion polling
Alberta Integration Summit, October
Public opinion polling
We want the public opinion aspect of the campaign to focus on reaching out to the “indifferent middle”, since we don’t need to preach to the converted, and those who are opposed to refugees may be a lot less susceptible to our messaging.
Arguments on humanitarian considerations are most powerful
We need to address economic concerns
We’ll be producing a package of materials with templates that can be used to profile local and individual stories, since these stories – the human face – is what has the most impact. Members and allies can take up these tools for their welcoming communities work.

22. Alberta Integration Summit, October 30 2017
Campaign roll-out
Detailed package of tools and guidance in time for Fall Consultation
Building on contributions of individuals in the community
Asking members to carry out focus groups
CCR hopes you will participate!

23. Thank you! Contact: Marisa Berry Méndez mberrymendez@ccrweb.ca
Alberta Integration Summit, October
Thank you!
Contact: Marisa Berry Méndez