New Canadian Project for LGBT Refugees

Jason Kenney

Canadian immigration minister Jason Kenney announced a pilot project in which the government will work with the LGBT community to help persecuted refugees.

The Toronto Starreports on the effort between Citizenship and Immigration Canada and the Rainbow Refugee Committee to sponsor refugees.

“The department will provide $100,000 in assistance to cover three months of income support for the refugees upon their arrival here, while the Rainbow committee will offer orientation services, accommodation, food and other basic needs,” reports the Star.

The agreement requires the Rainbow committee to reach out to other private groups for help with sponsorship applications and arrangements. Sponsors will provide financial support for asylum seekers’ first year of settlement in Canada.

The announcement comes in advance of a likely spring election and after the controversy over the Tory minister’s decision last year to abbreviate the references to gay rights history in a citizenship guide.

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Name: squatchie@gmail.com
Date posted: 3/25/2011 7:06:08 PM
Hometown: Ontario, Canada

Comment:
While I think it's a stretch to think that the Conservatives would be able to remove orientation from the Charter, and recind gay marriage, they are definitely NOT friends to the LGBT community. Or the Canadian people in general, IMO. Stephen Harper's the first PM we've had in my lifetime that I've actually been ashamed to have lead the country.
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Name: David
Date posted: 3/25/2011 4:19:11 PM
Hometown: New York

Comment:
God bless Canada, they put their love of God and Jesus and their religion into action by HELPING people who need help.
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Name: Jon
Date posted: 3/25/2011 3:11:31 PM
Hometown: Toronto

Comment:
Oh geez Stephen, I sure do feel for you being out in the middle of Conservative country. Yes if the Conservatives win a majority of seats in the next election it could be disasterous. They now control the senate as well which would mean they could over take away same-sex marriage, they could even ratify the charter of rights and freedoms to excude sexual orientation from it. This is a party that is dominated by evangelicals and people who believe the world is only 10,000 years old. It is very scary.
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Name: stephen bateman
Date posted: 3/25/2011 12:37:57 PM
Hometown: calgary, alberta

Comment:
Don't be fooled. This is not an indication that the Canadian government is suddenly soft on the LGBT community. it is an attempt to appeal to immigrant voters on whom they are counting for support in the upcoming election. In fact they are working overtime to prevent the passage of legislation that would allow the sale of generic HIV drugs to African countries - medications that would save millions of lives. This despite one of the most vigourous public campaigns in support of the bill in recent memory. See the comments of Tony Clement, one of Jason Kenny's cabinet colleagues in recent days and follow up on that story. this is the same bunch who fought same sex marriage every step of the way, who have succeeded in unfunding programs for women and children, not to mention other forms of international aid. They are famous for announcing new initiatives like this. The truth in the story is what follows the announcement. This will be a good thing, IF it happens.

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