Submitted by Sabine Lehr, Private Sponsorship of Refugees Manager

To honour Refugee Rights Day on April 4, the Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR) challenged all member organizations to give a toonie in support of CCR’s work, especially regarding the protection of refugee claimants. April 4 is the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s 1985 Singh decision.

In this decision, the Supreme Court of Canada found that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects the fundamental rights of refugees. The Court decided that ‘everyone’ includes refugee claimants in the sentence: “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of the person and the right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice.” Refugee claimants are therefore entitled to an oral hearing, in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice and international law.

ICA staff raised $300 during the toonie challenge! Thank you to everyone for contributing to the important work of the CCR.

For more information:
Supreme Court of Canada – decision: Singh versus the Minister of Employment and Immigration
Listen to lawyer Barbara Jackman: Reflections on the 1985 Singh Decision
Check out CCR’s YouTube playlist on the significance of the Singh decision.