GRSJ224/refugees in Canada

Canada has welcomed more than 30,000 Syrian refugees since November 2015 but they face challenges in their new home. Refugees face enormous barriers in Canada, particularly women. War and oppression can be impossible to escape. For refugee women, these challenges can be doubly complicated.

Challenges for Syrian refugees in Canada

There is an unfathomable pain faced by refugees. These include war, persecution, torture and the loss of loved ones. In order to escape, they left behind their homes, communities and countries — not to mention their incomes, assets and professional standing.

Sadly, this hardship doesn’t end upon arrival in a new country. Many experienced intense trauma, which results in flashbacks, memory problems and difficulty concentrating. Some suffered added traumas in transit or in their new home countries. Seidu Mohammed, for example, lost his fingers to frostbite to flee the U.S. for Canada.

The outpouring of support in Canada isn’t absolute; racism is still present. Refugees deal with poverty, and often don’t understand Canadian systems, culture and processes — and can face discrimination. And losing one’s home leads to other questions like: How do I start over? What’s my purpose? Where do I belong?

Language barriers prevent many otherwise qualified Syrians from getting jobs.

Lack of childcare prevents many refugees — particularly women — from taking language classes.

Mental health issues may arise from the trauma that refugees experienced in Syria.

Financial worries add to their stress and threaten to affect their mental well-being. Some refugees received travel loans from the federal government to get to Canada, which must be repaid — and with interest.

It’s even harder for refugee women. They no longer have access to family support networks. The Government of Canada says they prioritize women but their policies don’t often reflect this. Women are more likely to act as caregivers — and are often less immediately employable. As such, it’s difficult for them to access programs, community and job opportunities. This makes it harder for them to integrate into their new country. This can lead to isolation and depression.

Syrian refugees receive limited social assistance from the government

For several years, a persistent chain email has been circulating claiming that refugees receive significantly more money in income assistance than Canadians collecting a pension.  The information, which is based on a letter published in the Toronto Star has been disproven by the federal government and the Canadian Council for Refugees.

Refugees come to Canada in different ways, but no matter the category, refugees receive very limited income assistance from the government.

Refugee claimants and refugees recognized by the Immigration and Refugee Board receive no special income assistance.  They may, depending on provincial regulations, be entitled to social assistance like other residents.

Privately sponsored refugees are not entitled to government assistance (including provincial assistance) during the period of their sponsorship (usually for one year after arrival in Canada).  Their income support must be provided by their sponsors – volunteer community groups.

Government assisted refugees have access to financial assistance from the federal government through the Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP). This financial assistance is generally for one year maximum and is received only if they do not have their own financial resources or income. The exact rate depends on the size of the family and is tied to social assistance rates. For example, a single person receives between $567-$751 per month depending on the province they live in (as of 15 October 2018). A monthly top-up of up to $200 may be possible in areas with higher housing costs. In addition, government-assisted refugees are entitled to a one-time set up allowance, to cover such things as clothes, basic household effects and staples, and telephone installation. For a single person there is a maximum one-time allowance of $905, plus a $564 loan for house rental and telephone line deposits.

Most resettled refugees arrive in Canada with a significant debt burden, since they are expected to repay the Canadian government for their transportation to Canada as well as the cost of their medical examination before coming to Canada.  This means refugee families often begin life in Canada with a debt of thousands of dollars. Interest is charged on this loan at a rate set by the Department of Finance each year.

Syrian refugee women need to be better included

Like any other parent, these women want the best for their families. They want their children to be successful in school and to be productive members of society. Many also wish to find employment and become active members of their new communities.

Through the efforts of Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel, 1,200 Yazidi refugees are coming to Canada. These people endured an ISIS attack that left 5,000 dead and 7,000 kidnapped. Boys and men were forced to fight for ISIS, and women and girls as young as nine were forced into slavery facing violent daily rapes. The UN considers this atrocity to be a cultural genocide that amounts to crimes against humanity.

Canadians stand for women’s rights. The cabinet is fully gender-balanced. Reproductive rights are prized, as evidenced by maternity leaves recently being extended to 18 months. These same values must be afforded to our most vulnerable populations. This includes providing support to refugee women so they feel welcome and empowered in our communities.

What we can do to support refugee women

When daycare costs are prohibitive, refugee women are less able to access work. We must prioritize the $10aDay childcare plan at the government level. Educational programs for newcomers must be adapted to better accommodate women who’ve experienced trauma and violence so they can integrate more quickly into Canadian society. It’d also help if it were easier to access mental health programs.

On a community level, we can assist teachers who work with refugees, providing them with training and access to mental health experts and added staff. We can make programming for refugees more accessible through our neighborhood centers. Local organizations can also accomplish this by working together in collaboration.

Individuals can also play a part. Although local associations, neighborhood houses and churches need financial support, they also appreciate volunteer support.

Some other key recommendations

• Funding for language classes that include childcare facilities so all refugees can learn English or French
• Develop a comprehensive plan to deliver mental health services to Syria refugees
• Eliminate or reduce debts that some refugees have to the Canadian government by converting travel loans in to grants or introducing debt forgiveness mechanisms