{"id":31003,"date":"2022-10-04T17:17:55","date_gmt":"2022-10-04T17:17:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/egrowonline.com\/?p=31003"},"modified":"2022-10-04T17:17:55","modified_gmt":"2022-10-04T17:17:55","slug":"analysis-canada-top-court-ruling-on-asylum-seeker-pact-with-u-s-may-have-ripple-effects-lawyers-say","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/egrowonline.com\/?p=31003","title":{"rendered":"Analysis: Canada top court ruling on asylum-seeker pact with U.S. may have ripple effects, lawyers say"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p data-testid=\"paragraph-0\" class=\"text__text__1FZLe text__dark-grey__3Ml43 text__regular__2N1Xr text__large__nEccO body__full_width__ekUdw body__large_body__FV5_X article-body-v2__element__23wZV\" style=\"font-size:20px\">TORONTO, Oct 4 (Reuters) &#8211; A years-long fight over what Canada owes would-be refugees will have its day in the country&#8217;s highest court Thursday and the decision could have implications beyond the asylum system, affecting how Canada&#8217;s laws are challenged and how people prove their rights have been breached.<\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"paragraph-1\" class=\"text__text__1FZLe text__dark-grey__3Ml43 text__regular__2N1Xr text__large__nEccO body__full_width__ekUdw body__large_body__FV5_X article-body-v2__element__23wZV\" style=\"font-size:20px\">The court will be asked to decide whether Canada can trust the United States to respect vulnerable people&#8217;s rights and under what circumstances Canada is responsible if the U.S. asylum and detention systems breach them.<\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"paragraph-2\" class=\"text__text__1FZLe text__dark-grey__3Ml43 text__regular__2N1Xr text__large__nEccO body__full_width__ekUdw body__large_body__FV5_X article-body-v2__element__23wZV\" style=\"font-size:20px\">Refugee advocates are seeking to overturn the 20-year-old Canada-U.S. Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA), arguing it violates asylum-seekers&#8217; rights to equal treatment and to life, liberty and security of the person under Canada&#8217;s Charter of Rights and Freedoms.<\/p>\n<div class=\"registration-prompt-v2__container__1mRPg registration-prompt-v2__inline__1JoxF article-body-v2__element__23wZV article-body-v2__inline-registration-prompt__3q-iu\">\n<p><h5 data-testid=\"Heading\" class=\"text__text__1FZLe text__white__3r45t text__medium__1kbOh text__heading_5__2krbj heading__base__2T28j heading__heading_5__2A2g- registration-prompt-v2__heading__2z1Vt\">Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com<\/h5>\n<p><button data-testid=\"Button\" class=\"button__button__2Ecqi button__secondary__18moI button__round__1nYLA text-button__container__3q3zX registration-prompt-v2__button-text__2m6i6\" type=\"button\"><span class=\"button__container__3sgvk\"><span data-testid=\"Text\" class=\"text__text__1FZLe text__inherit-color__3208F text__bold__2-8Kc text__default__UPMUu text-button__medium__113uZ\">Register<\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p data-testid=\"paragraph-3\" class=\"text__text__1FZLe text__dark-grey__3Ml43 text__regular__2N1Xr text__large__nEccO body__full_width__ekUdw body__large_body__FV5_X article-body-v2__element__23wZV\" style=\"font-size:20px\">Under STCA, which came into effect in 2004, each country turns back asylum-seekers trying to enter at formal land border crossings on the grounds that they should apply for refugee status in the first &#8220;safe&#8221; country they arrive in.<\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"paragraph-4\" class=\"text__text__1FZLe text__dark-grey__3Ml43 text__regular__2N1Xr text__large__nEccO body__full_width__ekUdw body__large_body__FV5_X article-body-v2__element__23wZV\" style=\"font-size:20px\">The asylum-seekers affected are predominantly trying to head north, into Canada, whose asylum system is seen as more welcoming than that of the United States.<\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"paragraph-5\" class=\"text__text__1FZLe text__dark-grey__3Ml43 text__regular__2N1Xr text__large__nEccO body__full_width__ekUdw body__large_body__FV5_X article-body-v2__element__23wZV\" style=\"font-size:20px\">Refugee advocates <a target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/legal\/government\/canadian-refugee-groups-gird-supreme-court-fight-over-asylum-seeker-pact-2022-04-06\/\" class=\"text__text__1FZLe text__dark-grey__3Ml43 text__medium__1kbOh text__large__nEccO link__underline_default__2prE_\" rel=\"noopener\">argue<\/a> the agreement breaches asylum-seekers&#8217; rights by subjecting them to potential detention and deportation.<\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"paragraph-6\" class=\"text__text__1FZLe text__dark-grey__3Ml43 text__regular__2N1Xr text__large__nEccO body__full_width__ekUdw body__large_body__FV5_X article-body-v2__element__23wZV\" style=\"font-size:20px\">Canada&#8217;s government <a target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/americas\/canada-us-asylum-seeker-pact-has-adequate-safeguards-canada-argues-court-2022-05-18\/\" class=\"text__text__1FZLe text__dark-grey__3Ml43 text__medium__1kbOh text__large__nEccO link__underline_default__2prE_\" rel=\"noopener\">argues<\/a> the agreement is part of the country&#8217;s administration of its asylum system, that not everyone turned back is detained, that their treatment does not breach rights in a way that &#8220;shocks the conscience&#8221; and that there are adequate safety valves in place.<\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"paragraph-7\" class=\"text__text__1FZLe text__dark-grey__3Ml43 text__regular__2N1Xr text__large__nEccO body__full_width__ekUdw body__large_body__FV5_X article-body-v2__element__23wZV\" style=\"font-size:20px\">In May, Canada Border Services Agency told Reuters it does not track how often, if ever, it applies these safety valves. The agency has not yet responded to follow-up questions posed in May and last week.<\/p>\n<h2 data-testid=\"Heading\" class=\"text__text__1FZLe text__dark-grey__3Ml43 text__medium__1kbOh text__heading_5__2krbj heading__base__2T28j heading__heading_5__2A2g-\" style=\"font-size:24px\">&#8216;RIPPLE EFFECTS&#8217;<\/h2>\n<p data-testid=\"paragraph-8\" class=\"text__text__1FZLe text__dark-grey__3Ml43 text__regular__2N1Xr text__large__nEccO body__full_width__ekUdw body__large_body__FV5_X article-body-v2__element__23wZV\" style=\"font-size:20px\">The hearing is expected to last one day. There is no set time frame for a decision.<\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"paragraph-9\" class=\"text__text__1FZLe text__dark-grey__3Ml43 text__regular__2N1Xr text__large__nEccO body__full_width__ekUdw body__large_body__FV5_X article-body-v2__element__23wZV\" style=\"font-size:20px\">&#8220;This has potential to have really broad ripple effects as regards access to justice,&#8221; said refugee lawyer and University of British Columbia professor Efrat Arbel, who is acting as counsel for one of the interveners in the case.<\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"paragraph-10\" class=\"text__text__1FZLe text__dark-grey__3Ml43 text__regular__2N1Xr text__large__nEccO body__full_width__ekUdw body__large_body__FV5_X article-body-v2__element__23wZV\" style=\"font-size:20px\">&#8220;It&#8217;s not just whether there&#8217;s a breach (of rights) but what is necessary in order to evaluate whether there&#8217;s a breach. \u2026 That&#8217;s why the implications are so significant.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"paragraph-11\" class=\"text__text__1FZLe text__dark-grey__3Ml43 text__regular__2N1Xr text__large__nEccO body__full_width__ekUdw body__large_body__FV5_X article-body-v2__element__23wZV\" style=\"font-size:20px\">Federal courts have twice sided with refugee advocates in two separate challenges of the agreement and twice those rulings were <a target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/us\/appeals-court-upholds-canada-us-asylum-seeker-agreement-2021-04-15\/\" class=\"text__text__1FZLe text__dark-grey__3Ml43 text__medium__1kbOh text__large__nEccO link__underline_default__2prE_\" rel=\"noopener\">overturned on appeal<\/a>, which now brings the parties to <a target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/americas\/canada-supreme-court-hear-appeal-us-asylum-seeker-pact-2021-12-16\/\" class=\"text__text__1FZLe text__dark-grey__3Ml43 text__medium__1kbOh text__large__nEccO link__underline_default__2prE_\" rel=\"noopener\">Canada&#8217;s Supreme Court<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"paragraph-12\" class=\"text__text__1FZLe text__dark-grey__3Ml43 text__regular__2N1Xr text__large__nEccO body__full_width__ekUdw body__large_body__FV5_X article-body-v2__element__23wZV\" style=\"font-size:20px\">If the Supreme Court sides with the appeals court, it could make it more difficult for parties to challenge Canadian laws, obliging them to challenge the way they&#8217;re administered.<\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"paragraph-13\" class=\"text__text__1FZLe text__dark-grey__3Ml43 text__regular__2N1Xr text__large__nEccO body__full_width__ekUdw body__large_body__FV5_X article-body-v2__element__23wZV\" style=\"font-size:20px\">The ruling could also set precedents regarding what evidence is needed to prove rights are being breached.<\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"paragraph-14\" class=\"text__text__1FZLe text__dark-grey__3Ml43 text__regular__2N1Xr text__large__nEccO body__full_width__ekUdw body__large_body__FV5_X article-body-v2__element__23wZV\" style=\"font-size:20px\">Meanwhile, Canada has been lobbying the U.S. to extend the agreement so it applies to the whole land border \u2013 not just at formal crossings.<\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"paragraph-15\" class=\"text__text__1FZLe text__dark-grey__3Ml43 text__regular__2N1Xr text__large__nEccO body__full_width__ekUdw body__large_body__FV5_X article-body-v2__element__23wZV\" style=\"font-size:20px\">The number of asylum-seekers entering Canada between border crossings has <a target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/americas\/border-crossing-asylum-seekers-hit-six-year-high-canada-2022-09-27\/\" class=\"text__text__1FZLe text__dark-grey__3Ml43 text__medium__1kbOh text__large__nEccO link__underline_default__2prE_\" rel=\"noopener\">risen<\/a> to the highest level since the government started tracking them in 2017.<\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"paragraph-16\" class=\"text__text__1FZLe text__dark-grey__3Ml43 text__regular__2N1Xr text__large__nEccO body__full_width__ekUdw body__large_body__FV5_X article-body-v2__element__23wZV\" style=\"font-size:20px\">A spokesperson for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Sean Fraser told Reuters in September they had no updates regarding expansion talks.<\/p>\n<div class=\"registration-prompt-v2__container__1mRPg registration-prompt-v2__inline__1JoxF article-body-v2__element__23wZV\">\n<p><h5 data-testid=\"Heading\" class=\"text__text__1FZLe text__white__3r45t text__medium__1kbOh text__heading_5__2krbj heading__base__2T28j heading__heading_5__2A2g- registration-prompt-v2__heading__2z1Vt\">Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com<\/h5>\n<p><button data-testid=\"Button\" class=\"button__button__2Ecqi button__secondary__18moI button__round__1nYLA text-button__container__3q3zX registration-prompt-v2__button-text__2m6i6\" type=\"button\"><span class=\"button__container__3sgvk\"><span data-testid=\"Text\" class=\"text__text__1FZLe 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style=\"font-size:16px\">Toronto-based correspondent covering among other topics migration and health.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/address>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/americas\/canada-top-court-ruling-asylum-seeker-pact-with-us-may-have-ripple-effects-2022-10-04\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>TORONTO, Oct 4 (Reuters) &#8211; A years-long fight over what Canada owes would-be refugees will have its day in the country&#8217;s highest court Thursday and the decision could have implications beyond the asylum system, affecting how Canada&#8217;s laws are challenged and how people prove their rights have been breached. The court will be asked to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":31004,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[45],"tags":[14,11593,4867,3565,570,2840,11594,265,4223,114],"class_list":["post-31003","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ripple","tag-analysis","tag-asylumseeker","tag-canada","tag-court","tag-effects","tag-lawyers","tag-pact","tag-ripple","tag-ruling","tag-top"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"http:\/\/egrowonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/DZZ2JYBAYVNYTLGUTH54XWWOXM.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/egrowonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31003","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/egrowonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/egrowonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/egrowonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/egrowonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=31003"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/egrowonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31003\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31005,"href":"http:\/\/egrowonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31003\/revisions\/31005"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/egrowonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/31004"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/egrowonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=31003"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/egrowonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=31003"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/egrowonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=31003"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}