‘Safe nations’ list draws fire
Asylum reform program denounced by critics as unfair and illegal
OTTAWA — The federal government has unveiled a preliminary list of 27 countries Canada believes are unlikely producers of legitimate asylum claimants, touching off a wave of criticism from refugee advocates who say the new rules set to take effect Saturday are arbitrary, unfair, dangerous and illegal.
“These changes are essential to protect the integrity of Canada’s immigration system and to enhance our proud tradition of refugee protection,” Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said Friday.
“As a result of these changes, we expect the number of unfounded claimants abusing Canada’s generosity to continue to decline, meaning we can provide faster protection to real refugees and devote more resources to the resettlement of refugees waiting around the world in UN camps.”
The list includes 25 European Union countries, among them the Czech Republic, which was slapped with a visa in 2009. The country has vowed not to ratify the European Union free trade deal still in the works if Canada doesn’t remove the hindrance and some critics have argued the list is more about visas and trade deals than refugees.
That said, Kenney did not immediately remove the visa requirement for the Czech Republic.
“I don’t foresee any immediate changes in visa policy,” he said. “This is not a quid pro quo, but if we can — in part through these asylum reforms — reduce the number of unfounded claims coming from particular countries then we could have greater confidence in providing those countries with visa exemptions.”
Hungary, which the government said has since become a key source for false claimants, is also on the list. Kenney has often pointed to failed Roma claimants from Hungary as a reason for the new provision already adopted by countries like the U.K., despite criticism Roma often face real persecution.
While the list also includes the United States, it does not include Mexico, saddled with a visa requirement at the same time as the Czech Republic after the number of asy- lum claims from the country nearly tripled between 2005 and 2009, making it the top source for claims.
During his visit to Canada last month, Mexican president Enrique Peña Nieto said he raised the issue of eliminating the visa with Stephen Harper and was optimistic it would be resolved.
Kenney, however, said the government is still reviewing Mexico and hinted that the volatile security situation in Mexico could impact Canada’s decision. He also noted the list is preliminary and that more countries would be added in the coming months.
“Fewer than 25 per cent of Mexican claims are accepted as well founded by our fair asylum system so on the face of it, Mexico would qualify,” he said.
“But we also like to do a country review of the broader social conditions as a fail safe before proceeding with designation so that work is ongoing for Mexico as we speak so I would just say stay tuned.”
Also on the safe list is Latvia, one of three European Union countries a Postmedia News review of 2011 asylum statistics found should not be deemed ‘safe’ according to the government’s own criteria.
Under the Protecting Canada’s Immigration System Act that passed in June, safe countries include those with a combined rejection/withdrawal/abandonment rate of 75 per cent or higher, or a withdrawal/abandonment rate of 60 per cent or higher for asylum claims.
For countries that produce less than 30 claims, a “qualitative checklist” that considers whether a country has an independent judicial system, recognizes basic rights and permits the existence of civil society organizations would be used.
Statistics for 2011 show one-third of the 80 claims finalized in Latvia were actually accepted as bona fide.