Is there a “safer place for refugees” on earth?

By Tesfahun Reda ([email protected])

On the 20th of June 2023 and in connection with the world refugee day, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau avowed his government’s determination that “Everyone deserves a safe place to call home…and concluded his speech saying that…”Today, we come together as Canadians to keep our country a welcoming place and help build a safer place for the refugees”. That was the day when Tesfahun, the writer of this short article, has fled his country, travelled for days to reach in Canada and asked an asylum in Kitchener. PM Trudeau has always been by the side of those who faced barbarity. Back in 2017, Trudeau affirmed to the asylum seekers that “To those fleeing persecution, terror and war, Canadians will welcome you”.

Since the Tigray genocidal war was broken-out in November 2020 by the Ethiopian government against the Tigray people, Tesfahun has faced several atrocities in his country. On June 22, 2023, he got an opportunity to flee the country and arrived in Canada. He didn’t know anyone in Canada and thus planned to ask asylum at the Toronto Airport. Unfortunately, he had no clue of where exactly to ask an asylum and for this reason he passed-by the (IRCC) station where he had to ask an asylum. He asked the airport security to return to the IRCC’s workstation, but was told he couldn’t. In fact, they have warned him to leave the airport immediately. Tesfahun left marooned in the middle of nowhere and sat on one of the guest chairs at the corner. He sat for hours there without knowing as to where to go. Fortunately, he heard two guys speaking in his language (Tigrigna) where in Tesfahun stepped-up and asked them for help. One of them (a very kind lady named Rahel R.) has offered him a 4-days shelter in her house and brought him to Kitchener.

On June 26, he went to the Campus Refugee Center where he got a very helpful caseworkers (mainly Kristy), who assisted him to fill the Basis of Refugee Claim Form and get a legal aid. On the morrow, he got a nice shelter at the 84 Frederic Street and went to the “Ray of Hope” to get food and personal cleaning facilities. The Ray of Hope is one of the best community centers in Kitchener where anyone in need of food can get breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as personal cleaning facilities coupled with kind smiles of its social workers- all for free. At the shelter, Tesfahun got several friends and being with them have eased his refugee life and stayed without a pang of homesickness. Tesfahun spends much of his daytime at the Kitchener Central Library. In the late afternoons, he enjoys the very many music festivals, cultural shows that have been conducted around the City Hall and Victoria Park.

Tesfahun was astounded by the supper efficient service delivery system of the IRCC, Ontario Works, Service Canada, GRT, etc. Because of these, Tesfahun has got his UCI number, brown paper, social welfare assistance, work permit, SIN number and finally got a job in his 2nd month anniversary in Canada. In the meantime, Tesfahun took 4 short-term trainings and got a G1 driving license that all would help him improve his career level.

Back home, Tesfahun has worked in nine refugee camps as part of his contract with NRC and the WB/IFC as a short term technical assistance. There, he got to know what refugees’ life looks like in Africa. For him, Canada is the Promised Land and considered June 22nd as his rebirth.

Tesfahun brought his live case here to congratulate PM Trudeau and his government for living up to their promises and also thank to the many kindhearted and openhanded persons as well as communities in Kitchener for all the efforts they make to acclimatize the refugees and improve their life.

However, these days, Tesfahun is surprised to read and hear from the various media outlets that many people try to find the solution for affordable housing crises from the immigration policy and then criticizing PM Trudeau and his government. Tesfahun is of the opinion that these two are completely different and should be treated separately.  They are different policies with different grand objectives. In other words, addressing the housing problem through slowing down immigration flows wouldn’t solve Canada’s long-term economic development objective.

It might be true that the large number of incoming immigrants have increased the demand for goods and services including housing facilities. However, this has to be seen as an opportunity for the construction sector which at present is the second largest sector of the country. It has to be clear for any citizen that one of the prime assignments of governments in developed countries such as Canada is to boost the demand for goods and services and create an enabling environment for the supply to respond to demand. In such an economic environment demand creates its own supply. This is the basics of economics of developed countries.

Constructing rental houses for the middle income and poor is not a prime function nor should be considered as an indicator for good governance. What PM Trudeau and his government can do is to design and implement sound housing development policy that includes, among others, incentive packages for investors (local and international) and cooperatives to enter into the housing construction business. This is what PM Trudeau is doing at present through his Grand National Housing Construction Plan.