CAMBRIDGE, ON - Today, the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Member of Parliament for Cambridge and North Dumfries and Minister of State, welcomed Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney’s proposed legislation that will bring balanced reform to Canada’s Asylum System and fairness to those genuinely seeking shelter from conflict and oppression.

“Canada has one of the most generous refugee systems in the world, giving shelter to over one million refugees since World War II. Yet we are in danger of creating a two-tiered system: one for those who patiently wait in line to come to Canada; another for those who jump the queue,” said Minister Goodyear.

To address the inequality and backlog, the Government of Canada is proposing legislation that will:

Result in faster decisions and quicker removals of failed claims;
Depoliticize the process through which claims are heard; and
Deliver balanced reform which will increase help for those who genuinely and desperately need it.

To compliment this legislation, the government is also proposing to invest in more help for the genuine refugees who come to Canada through government or private sponsorship programs. Improvements to the overseas and in-Canada asylum programs are being pursued together, with changes to both contingent on our legislation being passed.



Backgrounders

• Proposed reforms to Canada’s asylum system
• Challenges faced by Canada’s asylum system
• Safe countries of origin
• Detention, removals and the new Assisted Voluntary Returns Program
• How Canada’s proposed reforms to the asylum system compare internationally