Refugee Myths and Facts

Our refugee sponsorship team saw a desperate need and over 60 of us have responded. We know you may have questions and concerns so we have attempted to answer some of them below.

Refugee Myths and Facts

There are a lot of myths and confusion in the community about who refugees are, where they come from and why they are in Canada. We address some of those myths below.

Refugees have no right to come here and expect us to help them.

Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, ”Everyone has the right to seek and enjoy in other countries freedom from persecution”.

It is an accident of birth that we are born in a country where human rights are respected. If we were in the same situation and forced to flee our home due to instability, war or persecution, we would hope to receive such assistance in our new country. While this does not mean that Canada alone must take the full burden for protecting the persecuted, it does mean that we have to play a part in an international response that includes a wide spectrum of initiatives from addressing root causes through diplomacy, military action, sanctions etc to providing asylum to people whose human rights have been violated.

Refugees are economic migrants who come here to get a better life.

Although the terms “refugees” and “migrants” are frequently used either interchangeably or in close association, there is a very important difference between the two groups. While migrants are people who make a conscious choice to come to Canada, refugees are people who have been forced to leave their countries because they have been persecuted.

Refugees rarely have the chance to make plans for their departure; to pack their belongings, to say farewell to their friends and families. Some refugees have to flee with no notice, taking with them only the clothes on their back. Refugees often have little idea about where they are going –they are running away, but not running to anything. Many have experienced trauma and those that come to Canada have no opportunity to prepare themselves physically or psychologically for their new life in Canada.

In contrast, migrants make a conscious choice to come to Canada. They are able to make all necessary preparations, pack their belongings and say good-bye to the important people in their lives. Migrants can also go home any time if things do not work out as they had planned or if they get homesick.

Because refugees and migrants are different groups of people, with different pre-arrival experiences, it is important that the distinction be made in the services provided. Refugees have needs distinct from and additional to migrants, in particular in relation to trauma counseling, secure housing, and medical care. In Canada’s case, all refugees are screened for medical issues before being given resettlement status.

Refugees take our jobs, or conversely, all refugees go on welfare or unemployment benefits.

It is true that newly arrived refugees have higher unemployment rates than the community average.

This is not unexpected. Amongst the refugee arrivals are people who have been tortured or traumatized. This can interfere with employment. There are also a significant number of entrants whose qualifications are not recognized in Canada and they need to make adjustments. There is also the issue of learning English.

The fact that refugees “come from behind” in the employment stakes highlights the need for specifically targeted intervention programs that recognize issues such as their trauma, their unrecognized qualifications and their lack of English. Targeted programs that do this have shown that they are very successful at placing refugees in the workforce. If we are to bring refugees into Canada, it is important that we recognize their specific needs and address them. If we do this, we will reap the benefits. Most refugees want to work, both to restore their damaged sense of self esteem and to repay what they see as their debt of gratitude to Canada for providing them with protection.

Whether “refugees take our jobs” is the sort of question that has no easy answer. Refugees do compete for jobs but they are also consumers. Because they arrive with nothing they have to purchase household goods, clothing, etc all of which provides jobs for people who make and sell these commodities.

Refugees get all sorts of handouts from Government.

Refugees essentially have the same rights and entitlements as permanent residents. Most refugee families do need some assistance in settling into society and learning English. However, after this initial period of adjustment, most are keen to find stable employment and provide for their families without relying on government benefits.

Refugees cannot possibly contribute anything to us.

It is a myth that all refugees are illiterate peasants. The majority that come to Canada are educated middle class people-whose education, profession or political opinions have drawn them to the attention of authorities and resulted in their persecution. Others are from a broad cross-section of society, forced to flee from instability or war that does not discriminate between the educated and the uneducated. By definition refugees are survivors. They have survived because they have the courage, ingenuity and creativity to have done so, and these are qualities we value in Canada. The challenge for Canada is to assist newly arrived refugees, to process the experiences of their past, and rebuild their lives in Canada. If we do this, we will reap the benefits and the experiences they bring to Canada.

Why don’t you do-gooders focus on our local needs?

You are absolutely right!! More needs to be done locally.

Our refugee sponsorship team focuses on our local needs as well...a lot! Every member of our team is involved in local support groups, fundraising, mentoring, teaching and a whole range of activities. Just a few examples..Georgian Bay Hospital, Georgian Bay Cancer Support Center, Big Brothers and Big Sisters (House Tour and Amazing Rally), Canadian Cancer Society (local fund raising and volunteer drivers), Garden Tour ($$ go to local librairies), Rosewood Womans Shelter, Salvation Army (Food Bank and Christmas Family program), Askennonia, and a much, much larger list.

We all feel that this is one more thing we can do along with what we are already doing. Not one of us has stopped doing what we normally do. We have added this to our list. And we are happy to do this. There are over 60 people on this team. There are 1000’s of teams like ours forming.

Your contributions, through donations of money, goods or time, would be greatly appreciated. Donate/pledge.