June 20th is World Refugee Day.  I can think of no better way of commemorating our commitment to supporting refugees than joining the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition and the Canadian Council for Refugees to demand that the federal government stop charging refugees the cost of getting into this country. Sign this petition to ask the government to get rid of this burden on refugees.

Here is what is so egregious about this practice. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and private sponsors refer refugees who are in urgent need for protection to Canada. Canada then screens the refugees before entering Canada and sponsors refugees based upon its criteria.  When the refugees are able to come to Canada, they must pay for their pre-entry medical exams, transportation documents and transportation costs out of their own pocket or with an interest bearing loan.

Canada is one of the few countries to charge refugees the cost of getting to the country and the only country to charge interest. Bringing refugees to Canada is a humanitarian gesture. Reaching out and helping them begin their new lives should include paying for their transportation.

The federal government has been working to cut benefits for refugees for a while.  Some of you may have heard about, and taken action against, the cuts to the healthcare benefits for refugees.  In 2014, the  Federal Court reversed the federal government’s proposed cuts

On World Refugee Day, let’s celebrate this win, and keep fighting for a more inclusive and just system to provide refuge for people leaving their homes and indescribable horrors behind.