Banning refugees from assistance could cause chaos, hardship, critics say
Loly Rico and husband Francisco Rico-martinez came to Canada in 1990 as political refugees from El Salvadore. They run a refugee shelter in toronto accommodating women and children. /TORONTO STAR FILE PHOTO
By: Nicholas Keung Immigration reporter, Published on Mon Sep 22 2014, Toronto Star, News/Immigration.
”Many refugees have survived persecution, trauma and violence. This is going to incur more stress, health problem and harm,” said a former refugee.
Francisco Rico-Martinez does not know how his refugee shelters and others in the city could manage if a Greater Toronto MP gets his way in opening the door to exclude refugees from accessing social assistance.
Charitable groups like Rico-Martinez’ FCJ Refugee Centre and local municipalities do have plenty to worry about as Pickering-Scarborough East MP Corneliu Chisu’sprivate member bill, C-585, winds its way for second reading scheduled for Tuesday in the House of Commons.
“By making changes to the system, our government is ensuring immigration is protected from those who are seeking to abuse taxpayer-funded health care, welfare, and other social benefits,” Alexander told the Parliament last week during the Question Period.
“We will continue to look at legislation in this place from the government, from private members, that goes in that direction to ensure a generous system gives value for taxpayers’ dollars.”
A former political refugee from El Salvador, Rico-Martinez and his wife, Loly Rico, runs four Toronto shelters accommodating about 30 people, many of them victims of domestic abuse.
“Social assistance is the lifeline for refugees when they first arrive in the country, without family, friends or any social support. How are they going to survive with no food, no clothes and money for transportation?” he said. (Read more…)