Proposed Refugee Bill Fails To Help Separated Families--Public Urged To Voice Concern

Mennonite Central Committee
Friday, 11 May 2001

Zeljko and Svjetlana (not their real names) long to start a new life in Canada. Twice in the last six years, the couple from Bosnia has applied to be reunited with family already in Canada. They were denied both times.

Zeljko's family in Canada would love to sponsor him, but according to Canada's current immigration law, that's not possible. Right now there's little any of them can do.

A new immigration and refugee bill now under consideration by Parliament won't be much help, either. As it now stands, the new bill--Bill C-11-- does not include a provision for people to sponsor their siblings, unless the siblings are single and under the age of 19.

Tim Wichert, Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Canada's refugee coordinator, appeared before a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Citizenship hearing, May 1, in Winnipeg. Among other recommendations, MCC called for the expansion of the family class.

"In many countries where we have programs, and where refugees and immigrants originate, the nuclear family is more broadly interpreted. We believe that brothers and sisters of any age should be included in family class," he said in his submission.

"We want families to be reunited, to help each other out, to start a new life together in a new country," Wichert said later. "Having sisters and brothers nearby has proven to be invaluable in helping people settle in more quickly."

Zeljko and Svjetlana's saga began during the Bosnian war in the early '90s. He was a lawyer in Sarajevo, she a chemical engineer. Together, they fled to Belgrade for safety with their two daughters.

When Zeljko's sister Nada came to Winnipeg as a refugee in 1994, some new friends at the Douglas Mennonite Church offered to sponsor Zeljko and his family as refugees. Although they qualified as refugees, Canadian immigration officials denied the application in 1997, reasoning that Zeljko and Svjetlana wouldn't be able to successfully establish themselves in Canada, even though they were educated, understood some English, and had family here.

As the years passed, Nada and another brother who came as a refugee in 1995, became better established, with good jobs, in Canada. They decided to try again.

Douglas Mennonite Church, together with Mississauga Mennonite Church, applied to sponsor Zeljko and Svjetlana, but earlier this year they were again denied. This time, immigration officials said Zeljko and Svjetlana could no longer be considered refugees (because Belgrade had become relatively stable in the meantime).

And so the family remains separated.

"The families, and the churches involved, feel both frustration and disappointment," says Wichert. "And yet this story could be vastly different had Nada been able to sponsor her brother directly. He would likely be here by now."

Wichert says nearly half the requests MCC receives for sponsorships are from people who can't sponsor their relatives through a Family Sponsorship. "We must change the laws to allow more people to sponsor their own family members," he says. "Doing so would also let churches and other groups sponsor more refugees in need who don't have relatives here to help them out."

Wichert believes the government may be willing to amend Bill C-11 to include siblings of all ages under the family class--especially if it hears from concerned constituents.

There isn't much time. It is expected that the Liberal government will pass the bill before the House of Commons breaks for the summer.

To voice your concern, consider writing Joe Fontana, Chair of the Parliamentary Committee studying the new law. A sample letter follows:

The proposed new immigration and refugee law defines the family to include children, spouses, and parents. We think that brothers and sisters should also be included. Please include a definition of family in the new law which will include brothers and sisters, so that family members can sponsor them. Let's keep families together if possible.

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