What is a Refugee?
Refugees are people who have had to escape from their homes in times of war or persecution. They cannot safely return home, and cannot count on their government to protect them or provide their basic needs. A refugee is a person who "owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country..." The 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees.
What is a Refugee Claimant?
Refugee claimants are people who make their way to Canada on their own and apply to the Government of Canada for protection once inside Canada.
What is an Immigrant?
Immigrants are people who choose to leave their countries voluntarily to make a new life elsewhere. They can return home at any time, and can still count on the protection of their own government.
What is a Government Assisted Refugee?
Government Assisted Refugees are those refugees who have made applications and been accepted for resettlement in Canada from overseas. The Federal Government provides accepted refugees with financial support and essential services for up to one year from the date of arrival in Canada.
How many Refugees does Canada Accept Yearly?
Each year, in keeping with its humanitarian traditions and international commitments, Canada accepts between 20,000 and 30,000 Convention Refugees and other displaced persons. Roughly half of these refugees are selected abroad for resettlement in Canada; the others are successful refugee protection claimants, who arrive in Canada seeking protection and are accepted by the Immigration and Refugee Board (Taken from the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website: www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/you-asked/section13.asp).
How do I come to Canada as a Refugee?
If you are a refugee, you will need to approach an organization that is recognized for identifying refugees, like the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for example. You must apply to this organization to register as a refugee. If you fit into the definition of a refugee or a person in need of protection, then the organization can help you to register as a refugee and refer you to the Canadian Embassy for making an application for resettlement in Canada (www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/you-asked/section14.asp).
How do I Immigrate to Canada?
If you are thinking about Immigrating to Canada, you should visit the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website(www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/index.asp) or visit the Canadian embassy or consulate nearest you.
Can The Association for New Canadians help me Immigrate to Canada?
Regrettably no. The Association for New Canadians is a settlement organization that provides settlement assistance to refugees who are already in Canada. We unfortunately do not have the authority or the resources to assist persons outside of Canada who want to immigrate here. If you are interested in immigrating to Canada, you should visit the Citizenship and Immigration website (www.cic.gc.ca), or contact the Canadian Embassy or Consulate nearest you. If you are in a refugee situation and would like to resettle in Canada, you should approach a refugee support organization, like the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and apply for refugee status.
How do I apply for Citizenship in Canada?
If you would like to know how to apply to become a Canadian Citizen, you should visit the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website (www.cic.gc.ca/english/citizenship/index.asp) for all of the answers to your questions.
How do I Sponsor a Relative?
How do I Sponsor a Refugee?
If you would like to learn how to sponsor a refugee into Canada, you should visit the Citizenship and Immigration website (www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/publications/you-asked/section14.asp#4) to find out how. If you decide that you want to sponsor, an Immigration officer or the Association for New Canadians would be able to provide you with more information and assistance in going through this rewarding experience.
Does The Association for New Canadians Accept Donations?
Yes, the Association is a charitable organization and accepts donations of all kinds from the community.
The Association helps refugees as they try to get settled into a new living situation, and therefore there is a great need for basic household items such as pots and pans, dishes, cutlery, cooking utensils, etc.
We are sometimes able to accept furniture when our clients are in need of such items. For example, clients may need such items as kitchen tables and chairs, coffee and end tables, television sets and radios, and sofas, chesterfields, couches, armchairs, or loveseats.
Reading materials are also welcomed as they provide an opportunity for practicing English skills. For example, we would welcome text books, story books, and magazines.
The Association also accepts monetary donations, which are usually directed to running programs for children and youth. The Association can provide a tax receipt for those wishing to make monetary donations.
For more information, please call 722-9680.
