Introduction

Sweeping changes to Canada’s refugee protection system are now in force as of 15 December 2012.

With the coming into force of Protecting Canada’s Immigration System Act (PCISA) (Bill C-31), refugee claimants now experience a very fast and decidedly more complex determination system than Canada previously offered. Kinbrace’s Navigating Refugee Reform Project works to ensure that all refugee claimants arriving in BC are educated, oriented, and supported in the new refugee protection system.

Here are the three actions of our project:

1. Coordinating the Navigating Refugee Reform Workshop – Completed
   This full-day workshop offered instruction, orientation, and strategy for service providers preparing for the new refugee protection system. The workshop was repeated six times throughout Metro Vancouver and the Lower Mainland with over 240 service providers trained.You can keep up to date and oriented through our Refugee Reform Resources.
2. Producing a new version of Refugee Hearing Preparation:  A Guide for Refugee Claimants
   This new, updated interactive guide helps refugee claimants engage the refugee protection system and prepare for their refugee hearings. You can find the new guide here.  If you are a refugee claimant who filed a claim prior to 15 December 2012, you can find our legacy version guide here.
3. Redesigning the READY Tours
   We are in dialogue with the Refugee Protection Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada to create a strengthened READY Tour opportunity that will complement the rigour of the new protection system. Follow updates on our READY page.