PRESS RELEASE: CARL applauds budget money for refugee determination and legal aid

February 28, 2018

PRESS RELEASE: CARL applauds budget money for refugee determination and legal aid

 

For Immediate Release

 

The Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers (CARL) applauds new money in the 2018 budget for refugee determination hearings at the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB). This will allow refugee claims to be determined on faster timelines, and allow the IRB to address the growing backlog in refugee claims.

 

“Refugee claimants are currently being told they will need to wait 12-24 months before their refugee claims are heard. We are hopeful that this new money will reduce these wait times, and ease the hardship and stress for refugees and other vulnerable migrants who are left in limbo,” said Lobat Sadrehashemi, President of CARL.

 

CARL also welcomed new money for legal aid services. “The refugee determination system is more fair and more efficient when claimants have adequate legal representation,” said Erin Simpson, Chair of CARL”s Advocacy Committee. “As a practical matter, this means adequately funding the legal aid system”.

 

For more information, please contact:

 

Erin Simpson, 647-406-1341

 

Lobat Sadrehashemi, 604-374-4860