Canada announced there are about 425 individuals detained at the immigration detention centers under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
Canada’s federal government signed a contract with the Canadian Red Cross (CRC) for monitoring of the country’s immigration detention centers to ensure they comply with domestic and international standards, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said in a statement Sunday.
Goodale stated “the government of Canada is committed to exercising its responsibility for detentions to the highest possible standards, with the well-being of detainees, as well as the safety and security of Canadians, as the primary considerations. This partnership with the Canadian Red Cross will provide enhanced, trusted monitoring of immigration detention, strengthening its accountability and effectiveness.”
The minister noted that year over a year, the number of detentions has gone down despite an increase in travelers coming to Canada, adding that over the last five years, detentions have dropped by 28.5% while the number of entries of foreign nationals into Canada have increased by 23.6%.
The CRC’s monitoring activities will include regular visits throughout the year to detention facilities across Canada where immigration detainees are held. This will increase the number of detainee visits each year, primarily focusing on the most vulnerable, including unaccompanied minors and individuals with medical and mental health conditions.
Last August, following a spate of hunger strikes at immigration detention centers, Goodale announced that the federal government will invest $138 million to make improvements to the country’s immigration detention system.
Source : Fana News