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Leaders in refugee rights and community members gathered to reflect on the Singh Decision and the State of Refugee Rights in Canada

By Mikayla Teofilo, Graduate Student in Criminology & Social Justice, April 2026

In recognition of Refugee Rights Day (external link)  and as the final class of CRM 303: Immigration and Refugee Protection, students, researchers, and community partners gathered on April 7 for Better Together: Resistance, Solidarity & Refugee Rights in Canada, a panel discussion examining the state of refugee protections amid growing policy concerns. 

The event, generously hosted in the ballroom of The 519 (external link) , brought together legal, clinical, and community-based perspectives to reflect on the legacy of the Singh decision (external link)  and its continued relevance. On April 4, 1985 the Supreme Court of Canada Singh decision (Singh v. Minister of Employment and Immigration) established that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects the fundamental rights of refugees, guaranteeing them the right to an oral hearing. It ruled that everyone physically present in Canada is entitled to fundamental justice under Section 7.

Speakers addressed emerging challenges, including recent legislative changes and cuts to refugee healthcare, while a Q&A created space for direct dialogue with community members. Speakers included legal scholar and professor Sharry Aiken, whose work focuses on inequalities of immigration and refugee law, who spoke to concerns about the recently passed Bill C-12, physician Vanessa Redditt, who works directly with refugee and migrant communities who spoke on the anticipated negative impacts of Federal government cuts to refugee health care coverage (external link) , and community leader Lisa Duplessis (external link) , who spoke to on-ground impacts of ongoing funding cuts and policy changes on organizations serving refugee claimants and the 2SLGBTQ+ community. 

Speakers situated these developments within broader conversations about access to justice and Canada’s international commitments. A refugee claimant shared her experience of displacement and reception in Canada.

The panel drew inspiration from the Canadian Council for Refugees' current Better Together campaign (external link)  and was organized as a keynote event by the Toronto Refugee Rights Day Planning Committee (external link) . This included several students from CRM 303, the Criminology Course Union (CCU), and TMU's graduate program in Criminology and Social Justice working alongside prominent refugee rights organizations in Toronto who mark this occasion on an annual basis.

Jadah Crowe-Stafford, a third year Criminology student and representative of the CCU felt that “after a semester of learning, it was an incredible experience to be able to participate in a formal discussion about refugee rights, and to understand the context for the issues raised in class. For me, the event was a powerful conclusion. It’s easy to get lost in all of the work that needs to be done, but being in that room with the many people who are as passionate as I am about systemic injustices was both reassuring and inspiring.”

For Kristen Cordeiro, also from the CCU and the course, “this was a very impactful experience for me both as a Criminology student and as a second-generation immigrant. The environment was one that made me feel accepted and valued, further giving me the confidence to share my opinions and ideas.” She added that “the planning process of this event taught me a great amount about event organizing. I learned about logistics such as budgeting, securing venues, and catering. I also learned about the experiences and challenges of refugees in Canada collaborating with community partners, and the ethical considerations of planning events with speakers and special guests" while “the newly passed Bill C-12, and many other themes connected strongly with course materials."

Ward 13 City Counsellor and 519 board member Chris Moise (external link)  read the City's proclamation  (external link) of April as Refugee Rights Month on behalf of Mayor Olivia Chow. 

The event centered on lived experiences and creative expression. Artwork produced by refugee claimants through a prior community workshop, in partnership with Jam’s Creative Lab and supported by the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants, was exhibited on-site, offering attendees an opportunity to engage with personal narratives of displacement, resilience, and belonging. Alongside the panel, an activist station provided accessible pathways for engagement, including petitions, QR-coded advocacy actions, and resources from national organizations as well as a photobooth with welcoming messages from the Better Together campaign (external link) .

In addition to the outstanding community organizations that partnered in the event including the Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture, FCJ Refugee Centre, Matthew House, OCASI, and The 519, the event received generous support and contributions from the Criminology Department, Global Migration Institute, Immigration & Settlement Studies MA Program, Canada Research Chair (Tier 2) in Gender and Migration and a Faculty of Arts guest speaker grant that made the event possible. Professor Carlaw hopes to make such discussions and collaborations an annual part of the course while a larger campus Better Together campaign has already begun to take shape for 2026-2027.