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<aside> ℹ️ This page is meant to provide general information on refugees and asylum seekers. The contents presented will engage with Canada's role in resettlement. This page will define refugees and asylum seekers and will discuss Canada's refugee policies.
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Why Protect Refugees and Asylum Seekers?
There are many reasons to commit to refugee protection including obligation, interests, and cultural values. Individuals tend to have obligations that are both special and general. Special interests are often geared towards individuals, families, and communities while general interests are geared towards humanity. The humanitarian principle implies that individuals have the feeling of a special responsibility towards those who are in need, such as refugees. This principle prioritizes the protection of the most vulnerable arriving in Canada, given that the costs are relatively low.
While refugee protection is important for humanitarian reasons, it is also critical for global stability. It is in the best interests of international security for refugees and asylum seekers to be provided with a safe haven. The provision of refugee security benefits all nations and can be considered as a global public good, benefiting economies as over time the cost of receiving the refugee will be significantly lower than the taxes paid by the refugee over the years. Included in the benefits is the security of individual reintegration into the state system. It also extends to human rights as there is a guarantee that individuals are having their basic needs met. In certain cases, values and identity make it preferable to take refugees from specific countries and situations.
Who is classified as a refugee?
The question of who to protect has ramifications in distinguishing a refugee and a migrant. In comparison to migrants, refugees have a unique moral claim due to the circumstances they are fleeing. As defined by the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (Refugee Convention), a refugee is:
“an individual who has fled his or her homeland on the basis of a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.”
How do you apply for refugee status in Canada?