Refugee Protection: Immigration and Refugee Board

Immigration and Refugee Board: The unanimous decision found that guilt by association is not reason enough to deny someone refugee protection, according to CBC. The ruling means the case of Rachidi Ekanza Ezokola will go back to the Immigration and Refugee Board, with new guidance from the court on how the rules should be interpreted and The Supreme Court of Canada issued a ruling Friday that clarifies the test that immigration officials should use when deciding if a refugee applicant was complicit in war crimes. It said in order to be excluded from protection the refugee applicant must "voluntarily make a knowing and significant contribution to the crime or criminal purpose of the group alleged to have committed the crime." It added the evidentiary burden falls on the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. 'Decision makers should not overextend the concept of complicity to capture individuals based on mere association or passive acquiescence.' Supreme Court of Canada (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.