June 1, 2016

Our sympathies have not been enough. Our prayers have not been enough. And what our governments have done to help has not been enough.





In an attempt to jolt the world into action, a humanitarian group and various media sources have shared a tragic photograph of another child forever lost in their family’s attempt to seek a better life. This infant, not yet identified, was one of an estimated 1,000 plus people drowned trying to cross the Mediterranean just last week. These are just from the boats authorities and humanitarian groups were aware of. It is likely no one really knows how many people have paid the ultimate price trying to reach Europe during what many have labelled the Refugee Crisis. This most recent spike in deaths, along with the heartbreaking image of the young migrant, will surely generate another response from the global community. Perhaps it will look similar to what we saw after the photograph of Alan Kurdi went viral. But will it be enough to radically change how we respond to migrants in crisis?

Even after the general public were faced with the haunting images of Kurdi washed up on the shores of Europe, and spoke out in solidarity with the plight of Syrian refugees in particular, very little was done by our governments to address the situation. Canadian and European officials seem to want us to believe that they are doing everything possible within their means. However, when one considers the amount of refugees being hosted by Turkey, Pakistan and Lebanon, it becomes impossible to believe that the extremely affluent, 28 member state European Union has genuinely been overwhelmed by the relatively small number who have reached their borders so far. This influx of migrants is only a crisis because of how the most wealthy nations have responded to it. Nations seem willing to spend untold fortunes on fortifying border crossings and waging war, yet claim they do not have the resources necessary to resettle even a modest amount of refugees. We can not accept this narrative any longer.

Canada has done no better. The new government’s celebrated increase in refugee quotas still does not reflect our country’s capacity for immigration and humanitarian aid, or the population’s willingness to open their doors. Just look how communities across Canada responded to those feeling the fires in Alberta. There is no reason to believe that same level of compassion would not be extended to those fleeing other desperate situations. A May 2016 Amnesty International survey seemed to confirm this hospitable attitude, with 80% of respondents expressing very positive attitudes towards resettling refugees. Yet the Liberal government still refuses to do any more, citing a lack of resources. This is unacceptable. We need to do our part as a prosperous nation. We need to open our doors to migrants in crisis - now!

Our dedication to human rights should never be based on a cost benefit analysis, especially one that consistently frames immigrants as a drain on the economy. This is especially troubling because it ignores the proven contributions immigrants have made to Canadian society and beyond. Even without acknowledging the positive potential each refugee holds, Canada, along with the EU members states, have legal obligations to accept those seeking asylum under the UN 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. More importantly, we have a moral obligation not to ignore such obvious cries for help and to assist our fellow global citizens however possible.

Wanting to secure the most basic human rights for our own families has to be one of the most natural instincts we have. This is what pushes parents to spend all their savings to put their children in leaky boats headed into the unknown. Coming from a life of privilege here in Canada, it is impossible for me to imagine the conditions which cause so many to risk not only the dangerous Mediterranean crossing to which the world has repeatedly bared witness to, but the extensive land crossings that face migrants on both ends of their journeys. These are long, perilous journeys to which no one would subject themselves if there were better options available. Whether they are fleeing war, poverty, oppression or environmental disaster, our response to their situation should be the same, compassion and generosity.

Of course there is immense value in understanding why people flee their homes, their countries and even their continent; however, knowing that humanity has always experienced large scale migration, and anticipating that we will likely see more of it, it seems prudent to establish more compassionate global and national policies to better handle these situations. The restrictive immigration policies of the worlds’ more affluent nations in large part force people to rely on human smugglers and to take more remote, dangerous routes. The appalling conditions of migrant detention centres and the painstakingly slow process of refugee resettlement also work to deter people from following legal immigration avenues. In this era of globalization, where endless resources go into the free movement of capital, information and natural resources, it is time we embraced the equally unrestricted movement of human beings. We all possess equal human value, and our nationalities should not determine whether we experience peace and security. The arbitrary borders that the world’s elite created (somewhat recently in our history) have worked to our collective detriment in so many ways, this most current loss of life is just the most recent example. If we fail to act as a global community - these latest deaths will have been in vain, and they will not be the last.

As individuals, and as a country, we need to start reimagining how we see our borders and those trying to cross them. Only when we embrace our global citizenship and start to view all migrants as potential neighbours will we be in a position to realize a world without borders, and thus, a world without refugees.

By: Jessa McLean