Refugee Workers Applaud End of Refugee 'Head Tax'

Mennonite Central Committee
Saturday, 15 April 2000

WINNIPEG, Man. -- Canada's recent decision to abolish the head tax on refugees frees them from an onerous burden that greatly hindered their adjustment to life here, say Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) refugee workers.

"It basically removes a huge obstacle for refugees that are coming to Canada," said Tim Wichert, refugee program coordinator for MCC Canada.

The $975 Cdn./$668 U.S. Right of Landing Fee (ROLF), introduced in 1995, was imposed on all adults becoming permanent residents of Canada. It was a way to recover costs for the immigration department. Elinor Caplan, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, announced the elimination as part of the federal budget at the end of February.

"It's a significant victory," said Ed Wiebe, refugee coordinator for MCC Manitoba. "If you would have talked to us 18 months ago, we would have said, 'Nah, there's no give.'"

But the government stance softened since then. Wiebe credits the change in part to the highly public influx of Kosovar refugees. Those who wanted to stay in Canada as landed immigrants still had to pay the head tax. Wiebe said that seemed incongruous to many Canadians, considering the lengths the government undertook to bring them to Canada in the first place.

Churches and other refugee organizations were instrumental in raising public awareness, and pressing the government to abolish the head tax. MCC has spoken up against the ROLF since its initial imposition, citing the hardship it caused for newcomers.

Wichert points out that $975 Cdn./$688 U.S. equals three years wages in many countries that refugees come from. And although government loans are often available, it still causes refugees significant financial strain. "It just seemed to go counter to what we're trying to accomplish by getting people more quickly on their feet," said Wichert.

Refugees accepted in Canada still have to pay processing fees of $500 Cdn/$342 U.S. per adult, $100 Cdn/$68 U.S. per child. As well, other immigrants still have to pay the ROLF.

Wichert said it's ironic that a Liberal government, traditionally supportive of immigration, imposed these fees. He said the head tax elimination is a hopeful sign. "I think this is a small step," he said. "And it indicates that when we raise awareness of refugees' needs, the government does listen to us sometimes."

For more information, or to contact Mennonite Central Committee, see their website at: www.mcc.org