Funding uncertainty could stall LGBT refugee resettlement, advocates say

The Liberal government says it's committed to bringing more LGBT refugees to Canada, but advocates say funding uncertainty, lengthy processing andlack of specialized training for visa officers are threatening resettlement efforts.

Next year, Canada will bring in about 43,000 refugees, among them lesbian, gay, transgender and other people facing persecution based on sexual orientation.

Sharalyn Jordan, chair of the B.C-based Rainbow Refugee, said lives are at risk in nearly 80 countries which outlaw certain sexual orientation. Her organization has resettled 95 sponsored LGBT refugees with the assistance of federal funding.

But she's worried that money will soon dry up.

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"The uncertainty means we can't go forward with this work and potentially ends the sponsorship of LGBT refugees,"Jordan told CBC News.

"This is work that creates safety for some of the world's most vulnerable refugees, people who are persecuted not only in their own country, but often the other country they flee to is just as dangerous."

In its response to the committee report, the government did not make any guarantees, but said it would consider funding and next steps beyond March 2018.

Canada is regarded as a champion of human rights protection around the world, and she said there is mounting globalpressure for the government to do more.

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"There are very few countries that can be safer places, safer havens, for LGBT refugees and Canada is one of them," she said. "Other countries like the U.S. that used to play the role have cut back. They're not a welcome space for refugees anymore and it's important for Canada to take on that role."

Jordan saidLGBTrefugees have specialized community support needs, from finding a safe place to pray for a gay Muslim man to adequate housing for atransgenderrefugee in transition.

'We have more work to do'

Randy Boissonnault, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's special adviser on lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, two-spirit and queer issues, saidthe government could more to ensure specialized supports are in place.

"I think we have more work to do as a government to make sure the settlement supports are equitable for LGBTQ refugees and that's what the secretariat and I are working on to make sure that takes place," he told CBC News.

He said the government wants LGBT people around the world to know they are welcome in Canada.

"That doesn't mean tomorrow we can have 100,000LGBTQ2 refugees. We don't have the capacity for that," he told CBCNews. "We have to send a clear signal and also manage expectations. That is sometimes a difficult balance to achieve but we're working on it."

New guidelines

Earlier this year, the Immigration and Refugee Board issued new guidelines on handling issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity to promote a greater understanding of the diversity and complexity of individuals and the potential harms they face.

Canadian Council for Refugees director Janet Dench said she is disappointed in the government's lack of commitment to strengthen policy and training for visa officers, which she said is inconsistent across the country and around the world.

"Sometimes Canadian officials are not suitably sensitive to the realities of LGBT individuals," she said.

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MPs on the immigration committee carried out a lengthy study on theLGBTrefugee issue and tabled a report with 15 recommendations in June. One called on the government to assess the feasibility of implementing a system to track the number of LGBTQ refugees that Canada accepts annually, "without compromising the security, safety and privacy of the individual."

In a response to the committee, the government rejected that proposal.

Denchsaid refugees should be identified and prioritized based on the greatest need.

"While we want to see LGBT refugees protected, we're opposed to discrimination, politicization of the selection process. We're not in favour of specific groups saying these ones are going to come in front of those ones," she said.