Stop the Budget Bill from Denying Refugee Claimants Social Assistance

Bill C-43 is the Conservative Budget Bill which includes provisionsto deny access to social assistance to refugee claimants. These provisions come almost directly from a Private Member's Bill, Bill C-585, whose express purpose was to institute this policy. Social assistance is a crucial lifeline for individuals who have often escaped war and persecution when newly arrived. Frequently, refugee claimants cannot access work permits for months on end, and rely on social assistance to survive. We cannot support such a cruel and unusual policy.