The policy recommendations that emerged from this study can be classified into the
following four categories: destining, services, employment, refugee costs.
Destining Policy
- More accurate and complete information regarding destination communities in Alberta is
required by both Citizenship and Immigration personnel and by refugees themselves prior to
entry into Canada.
- Refugees should no longer be destined to Fort McMurray or Grande Prairie; the retention
rates in these two cities are very low. Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, Lethbridge, and
Medicine Hat should continue to receive refugees.
Services
- English language instruction should not be limited to LINC 3. Many refugees require
English skills at a much higher proficiency level if they are to obtain employment
commensurate with their qualifications. Further, we recommend additional funding to cover
instruction at LINC 4 level, so that existing levels of language training are not
compromised.
- Services should be culturally sensitive and fair to all refugee groups. This is
especially important in centres where there are very few people from a particular ethnic
group, and in centres where refugees frequently experience racism.
- There is a need for improved employment preparation programs and job-finding assistance.
A very high proportion of refugees are unemployed or underemployed. Many are working
part-time and employed in temporary positions.
- Settlement services should be available to those who need them after the first year in
Canada. A significant percentage of refugees felt the need for additional support.
- Settlement agencies should be funded on the basis of the number of sessions per client
rather than the total number of clients served. The current funding structure puts
refugees with multiple barriers at a disadvantage, as well as the agencies that serve
them.
- The quality of service in Lethbridge should be improved. Many people who were sent to
that city were dissatisfied with the availability and quality of services provided.
Employment
- An employer-government cost-sharing program should be implemented to ensure that
refugees have opportunities to gain Canadian work experience and references.
- Recognition of foreign credentials must be reviewed. Many refugees are selected to come
to Canada because of their post-secondary training and/or occupational credentials, but
they face barriers because there is limited recognition of their credentials by Canadian
employers.
Refugee Costs
- The costs borne by refugees for travel loans, living expenses, and citizenship
applications should be reviewed. Some of the expectations with regard to payment schedules
are unrealistic given the life circumstances of refugees.