Don’t Let a Good Crisis Pass You By – Our Response and Lessons Learnt from Syrian Refugee Crisis

AAISA 8th Biennial Settlement Conference – Oct 23,2015

Don’t Let a Good Crisis Pass You By:Our Response to Syrian Refugee Crisis

September 3, 2015:

• Calling on the Government of Canada to Implement Immediate Multi-Pronged Approach to Syrian Refugee Crisis

• Implement the pre-activation stage of Canada’s Emergency Refugee Contingency Plan;

• Consult UNHCR HQ and European States to determine current Syrian refugee resettlement needs;

Don’t Let a Good Crisis Pass You By: Our Response to Syrian Refugee Crisis

• Process all Syrians in Europe who have direct family ties in Canada for emergency family reunification;

• Call for one time emergency contribution of $400 million to UNHCR;

• CIC urge to allocate $10m annual funding for first-language trauma support programs;

• Don’t forget other Refugees in need of resettlement

Don’t Let a Good Crisis Pass You By: Our Response from Syrian Refugee Crisis

September 14, 2015:

• Thank you for the $100m matching grant but what about Syrian refugee resettlement?

• Syrians in this country are desperate to be reunited with their extended family members abroad.

• Urge Canadian Government to help Middle East states by prioritizing refugee resettlement in an expedited manner

Don’t Let a Good Crisis Pass You By – Our Response to Syrian Refugee Crisis

• Urge CIC to immediately set up a toll free number and simplified application process for extended family reunification cases;

• Process all extended relatives abroad with ties to Canada as GARs.

• Point out that the CIC Minister has the ability to issue Ministerial Directives to attain its humanitarian immigration goals.

Don’t Let a Good Crisis Pass You By – Our Response to Syrian Refugee Crisis

• Reduce the red tape for sponsorship applications;

• Restore IFH coverage for privately sponsored refugees;

• Eliminate the document requirements for G5 and Community Sponsorships – UNHCR proof of refugee status.

• Process applications quickly.

Don’t Let a Good Crisis Pass You By – Our Response to Syrian Refugee Crisis

September 21, 2015:

• Family Reunification is the quickest way to increase the number of refugees resettled to Canada;

• Canada needs to put refugee children first - through expedited extended family reunification for refugees and internally displaced who have pre-existing ties to Canada;

Don’t Let a Good Crisis Pass You By – Our Response to Syrian Refugee Crisis

• We ask the Government of Canada to adhere to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child - articles 3,9,10 and 19 -- 4 recommendations:

1. Expand family definition -include grandparents, uncle, aunts, nephews and nieces.

2. Expedite extended family reunification by using GAR program.

Don’t Let a Good Crisis Pass You By – Our Response to Syrian Refugee Crisis

3. Allow internally displaced family members the opportunity to reunite with their family members in Canada through permanent resettlement or the issuance, on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, of visitor visas for respite visits to Canada.

4. Expedite the reunification of children from refugees who sought asylum in Canada and were approved for permanent residency by the Immigration and Refugee Board.

Don’t let a good crisis pass you by:Lessons Learnt

• We are the experts in refugee and immigrant

settlement;

• Create the environment that establishes you as the local “go to” resource to province, region, city, community, media;

• Be the first out the gate with an opinion – provide response to major announcements that impact our work and that of our clients;

Don’t let a good crisis pass you by:Lessons Learnt

• Nobody likes surprises – share draft and final press

releases and other developments with CIC NHQ – the importance of maintaining collaborative working relationships;

• Take the time to educate the press – know your facts and history – speak with confidence – develop long term working relationships – go for coffee – respond quickly as they usually have tight deadlines;

• Be proactive with story ideas for media – helps you promote your agenda to the public, e.g., op ed piece – remember you have an opinion based on practice and working with newcomers;

• Don’t underestimate the power of the human story – reach out to clients – take the time to obtain informed consent;

Don’t Let a Good Crisis Pass You By:Lessons Learnt

Don’t Let a Good Crisis Pass You By: Lessons Learnt

• Keep the Minister’s office informed – because you must maintain constructive, pragmatic working relationships;

• Maintain non-partisanship – engage all political parties;

• Reach out to strategic partners – you will be surprised who supports your cause - seek advice and input from others outside the sector.

Don’t Let a Good Crisis Pass You By: Lessons Learnt

Thank you for Listening