Preface

• Author: Sasha Baglay/Martin Jones
• Pages: 19-22

xix

PR EFAC E

A. INTRODUCTION

This book is intended as an introductory guide to Canadian refugee

law and procedure for law students, legal practitioners, paralegals, and

NGO staff. While it is at times technical in its l anguage and procedural

descriptions, it can also be used by those interested in refugee issues

more generally.

The book def‌ines “Canadian refugee law” fairly broadly to include

not only the formal statutory and regulatory basis of the law but also

the various policies, processes, and practices that are used to deter-

mine refugee law issues. Furthermore, the term is seen to include not

only protection of individuals who are Convention refugees but also

other categories of individuals who are in need of protection due to a

potential violation of their human rights abroad.

While Canadian refugee law has emerged over the past several dec-

ades as an independent branch of law and discrete area of practice, in-

evitably it remains closely tied to immigration law and often requires

cross-referencing to immigration law. Therefore, this book presents

refugee law as a system subject to that discipline’s internal logic and

integrity, not a system of law that operates in isolation.

The principal objective of the book is to provide an accurate account

of the basic features of Canadian refugee law, policy, and procedure. It

is by no means exhaustive. No single book can describe, discuss, and

resolve all of the details and nuances of the Canadian refugee system.