Public Support for Immigrants and Refugees in Canada Rallied

MONTRÉAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In a time of rising anti-immigrant sentiment and divisive rhetoric among some leaders, today, the Canadian Council for Refugees along with unions, NGOs and human rights organizations across Canada, launched the We’re Better Together campaign. The collective effort aims to demonstrate and grow public support for immigrants and refugees in Canada.

“Blame and hate towards immigrants and refugees in Canada is increasing, while government support for newcomers is declining – this will not help build the Canada we need or want,” said Diana Gallego, President of the Canadian Council for Refugees. “Still, more Canadians support than oppose immigration. This new campaign gives voice to that support and sends a clear message to our political leaders: We are better together.”

Campaign organizers are decrying trend lines headed in the wrong direction. Just last week, the federal government continued to slash immigration levels and cut back on newcomer support services. New legislation tabled in Bills C-12 and C-2 threatens to militarize borders and roll back refugee protections – all counter to Canada’s long standing commitments to be an open and welcoming country.

“The recently introduced Bill C-12 not only undermines the rights and dignity of refugees and migrants, but it is also harmful and divisive” said Ketty Nivyabandi, Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada. “Every person deserves to be safe from persecution and to be treated fairly, regardless of where and how one has arrived. Around the world, an authoritarian wave is rising, pointing to newcomers as the source of social ills. Canada can and must resist this tide and respect its international obligations, including the right to seek asylum through a fair and effective procedure."

We’re Better Together was conceived to strengthen and reinforce calls from across all sectors of society for a fair and welcoming immigration system that serves everyone in Canada.

“Immigrants and refugees contribute much to our communities and to our country, making them essential for our shared future,” said Gallego. “Through this campaign, people in Canada are fighting back against harms caused by some politicians deflecting blame for infrastructure deficits or job loss onto migrant workers, refugees and other newcomers.”

“CUPE is proud to join this campaign and push back against those who use divide and conquer tactics to distract us while attacking workers rights, cutting back the healthcare and services we all need and letting housing prices spiral," said Mark Hancock, National president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) “We must join together in support of a future where all families and workers can thrive.”

The We’re Better Together campaign is backed by research commissioned by the Canadian Council for Refugees and partners that surveyed over 2000 people across Canada.

For more information about the We’re Better Together campaign:
Visit BetterTogetherCanada.ca. The site will be live as of 9am EST.

About the Canadian Council for Refugees:
The Canadian Council for Refugees is a leading voice for the rights, protection, sponsorship, settlement, and well-being of refugees and migrants in Canada and globally. CCR is driven by member organizations working with, from, and for these communities from coast to coast to coast.