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Refugees have been defined firstly in the Immigration Act in 1976. This act has been supported by communities and politicians. The refugees got a definition and status with the refugee law.

Refugee laws are crucial for refugees because they directly affect them: their status in the country and their life conditions depend on these laws. Even for them to stay alive depends on these laws.

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MS St. Louis. [Image]. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/MS-St-Louis-German-ship#/media/1/2102477/225630. Retrieved November 28, 2021

In 1939, refugees got on a ship named MS St Louis to escape from Nazis, however, they weren’t accepted to Canada. The ship went back to Europe with putting the refugees’ lives in danger again. Later, 254 of the passengers died (Yarhi, 2019).

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With the refugees and immigrants, Canada was becoming a more diverse county. This brought the Canadian Multiculturalism Act (1988), which legislated the protection of this diverse structure (Van Dyk, 2021).

Unfortunately, there have been many misperceptions in public about refugees, affecting their lives negatively: People think accepting newcomers and refugees increases crime in Canada. Even though immigration even helps lower the crime rates (Giese, 2020).

Refugees have been facing racism and discrimination in the country. There aren’t enough programs for refugees. This act was aimed at three main topics:

1)    Protecting the cultural background of the individuals.

2)    Reducing discrimination

3)    Promoting the programs supporting immigrants and refugees (Van Dyk, n.d.)

The refugee law protects refugees, but it still needs improvement. Refugees are waiting for a court very long time; some refugees even wait for more than ten years.

If the refugees receive a favourable decision from the court, the law allows them to apply for permanent residency and get the support of full of the settlement services such as employment and language (Government of Canada, 2019).

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Twenty-two-year-old Canadian Immigration Officer Scott Mullin decides who does and who doesn't get into Canada.

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On a national level, Canadians have a good attitude towards diversity and the belief that immigration has a positive impact on the country compared to those living in the United States.

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The government believes that immigration is an asset that can reduce government spending. However, several social issues relating to equitable integration pathways, cultural diversity, and social inclusion combined with barriers in social supports are causing challenges within communities.

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Throughout the pandemic, Canada has had major lockdowns, and varying restrictions of entering the country, which greatly impacted if, and how refugees could enter the country.

“...at the height of the crisis, 168 countries fully or partially closed their borders, with around 90 making no exception for those seeking asylum.” (UNHCR Staff, 2020).

At the beginning of the pandemic, our government closed our borders to those asylum seekers entering irregularly, between points of entry.

At our border with the United States, Canada has turned away over 544 asylum seekers since the beginning of the pandemic (Paperny, October 2021).

“An unknown number of asylum-seekers turned back were taken into indefinite U.S. immigration detention and at least two were deported, refugee lawyers working on their cases say.” (Paperny, November 2021)

The policy was ended by the Liberal government last week.

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1. Liberal Federal Government - By Aliah

2. FCJ Refugee Centre - By Basir

3. Canadian Council for Refugees - By Laycia

4. Conservative Party - By Lucy

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Giese, R (April 15, 2020). How immigration helps to lower crime rates. The Walrus. Retrieved from https://thewalrus.ca/arrival-of-the-fittest/

Government of Canada (2019). Claimed asylum in Canada – What happens?

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2017/03/claiming_asylum_incanadawhathappens.html

Van Dyk, L. (2021). Canadian Immigration Acts and Legislation. Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21

https://pier21.ca/research/immigration-history/canadian-immigration-acts-and-legislation

Yarhi, Eli. "MS St. Louis".  The Canadian Encyclopedia, 26 April 2019, Historica Canada. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ms-st-louis. Accessed 05 October 2021.

MS St. Louis. [Image]. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/MS-St-Louis-German-ship#/media/1/2102477/225630. Retrieved November 28, 2021

Paperny, A. M. (2021, October 29). Canada defends COVID-19 policy barring asylum seekers entering between Border Crossings . Global News. Retrieved November 21, 2021, from https://globalnews.ca/news/8334356/canada-asylum-border-court/.

UNHCR Staff. (2020). Covid-19 crisis underlines need for refugee solidarity and inclusion. UNHCR: The UN Refugee Agency. Retrieved November 21, 2021, from https://www.unhcr.org/news/latest/2020/10/5f7dfbc24/covid-19-crisis-underlines-need-refugee-solidarity-inclusion.html.

Russell, A., & Hill, B. (2020, March 20). Coronavirus: Closing Canada's border to refugees violates international law, experts say. Global News. Retrieved November 21, 2021, from https://globalnews.ca/news/6710312/coronavirus-border-closure-international-law/.

Seeking asylum in during the COVID-19 pandemic. UNHCR Canada. (n.d.). Retrieved November 21, 2021, from https://help.unhcr.org/canada/applying-for-asylum/seeking-asylum-in-canada-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/.

Paperny, A. M. (2021, November 22). Canada ends covid-19 policy turning back asylum-seekers between Border Crossings. CTVNews. Retrieved November 24, 2021, from https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/canada-ends-covid-19-policy-turning-back-asylum-seekers-between-border-crossings-1.5676552.

Van Dyk, L. (2021). Canadian Immigration Acts and Legislation. Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21

https://pier21.ca/research/immigration-history/canadian-immigration-acts-and-legislation

Yarhi, Eli. "MS St. Louis".  The Canadian Encyclopedia, 26 April 2019, Historica Canada. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ms-st-louis. Accessed 05 October 2021.

References for Purpose and Important Developments of the Policy

Consolidated Federal Laws of Canada, Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. (2021, November 25). Retrieved December 1, 2021, from https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/I-2.5/page-1.html#h-274085.

Canadian refugee policy. The Canadian Encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved December 1, 2021, from https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canadian-refugee-policy.

Immigration, R. and C. C. (2021, November 29). Government of Canada. Canada.ca. Retrieved December 1, 2021, from https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/refugees/afghanistan/special-measures.html.

Samuel, S. (2018, May 26). 'there's a perception that Canada is being invaded'. The Atlantic. Retrieved December 1, 2021, from https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/05/theres-a-perception-that-canada-is-being-invaded/561032/.

Immigration, R. and C. C. (2021, November 19). Government of Canada. Canada.ca. Retrieved December 1, 2021, from https://www.canada.ca/en/services/immigration-citizenship.html.

Immigration, R. and C. C. (2016, June 30). Government of Canada. Canada.ca. Retrieved December 1, 2021, from https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/reports-statistics/research/economic-social-objectives-immigration-evidence-that-informs-immigration-levels-education.html.

Statistics Canada. (n.d.). 11 the effect of immigration on social cohesion in Canada. Immigrant Economic and Social Outcomes in Canada: Research and Data Development at Statistics Canada. Retrieved December 1, 2021, from https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11f0019m/2008319/s13-eng.htm.