Analysis of policies affecting immigrant, refugee and visitor women who experience violence : CCWS reort on consultation, Nov 23, 2006

Whereas the family law principles are about the best interest of the child(ren), and the maximum contact of the child(ren) with both parents, the refugee protection system is about risk to return to the country of origin or habitual We encourage CIC to acknowledge having children born in Canada as an important factor to let women gain status in Canada (BWSS). [...] Responding to reports of abuse Immigration Canada needs to respond to women when they to write to them with the details of the abuse they have endured, hoping that Immigration Canada will strongly consider such information when these abusers/husbands try to sponsor other women into Canada (VLMMFSS). [...] CIC has assigned their legal rights under the sponsorship agreement and undertaking to the provinces, the right to collect on behalf of the federal government when a default occurs. [...] The Minister and the province concerned may choose not to take enforcement action to recover money from the sponsor if the default is the result of abuse or CCWS Report on Consultation/ Nov 23, 2006 4 in other circumstances. [...] The definition of victim of violence needs to be re-defined with immigrant/refugee women in mind and there needs to be a consistent application of the policy amongst all MEIA offices (VLMMFSS).