Why the Safe Third Country Agreement must go
Open CanadaJun 02, 2021
On Thursday, Canada's top court heard arguments from advocates who say that the US-Canada Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) — a nearly two decades old deal that sees Canada and the US share responsibility for migrants — should be abolished because it violates Canada's constitution.
The STCA, enacted in 2004, requires asylum seekers to claim protection in either Canada or the US, whichever country they arrive in first.
The STCA must be terminated because it’s immoral and unconstitutional, as the federal courts have ruled twice. The Canadian constitution requires the government to ensure safety and liberty for all, regardless of status. The STCA has repeatedly forced asylum seekers back into the dangerous custody of the US, where they're treated abysmally and often deported.
The STCA needs to be expanded, not terminated. The loophole has opened a back door into Canada, which has led to an influx of irregular border crossers. While refugees should be welcomed, there needs to be a renewed focus on legal immigration to ensure the safety and security of Canadians first and foremost.
There's a 50% chance at least 208k refugees will be admitted to the US from 2021 to 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.