The truth about asylum in Canada (Policy Options)

Canada’s robust asylum system is largely misunderstood. Many Canadians don’t actually know how asylum works, and the lack of understanding has allowed for a moral panic to develop around asylum seekers, particularly international students. The panic is being fuelled by misinformation, disinformation, sensational media narratives, and political rhetoric.

But asylum isn’t automatic. Many asylum seekers are rejected because they don’t meet stringent criteria for protection. This is something that Canadians need to understand. Systemic issues are driving asylum claims but legal frameworks ground the asylum system.

The heated public discourse needs to change. It’s hurtful on an individual level and damaging on a societal level. Policymakers should be actively countering the prevailing anti-refugee narrative by focusing on effective policy solutions that solve underlying challenges without stigmatizing vulnerable populations. The public, too, needs to approach the topic from a more-informed position.