UK issues migrant consent guide while Canada relies on settlement services

Last week the United Kingdom released a concise nine-page orientation guide for asylum seekers, explicitly defining rape, detailing legal consequences, and advising on domestic violence and public behavior. The piece argues that such a document is overdue given a series of reported assaults and other social frictions attributed to recent migrants. Canada, by comparison, does not produce a similar “don’t rape” pamphlet; Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada says orientation is handled by settlement service providers funded at nearly $1 billion for 2026-27.

The department’s 2025 pre-departure workbook emphasizes newcomers’ rights, gender identity, and basic etiquette, while only briefly touching on crimes like unwanted sexual touching. Critics contend that delegating guidance to third-party agencies lets the federal government sidestep publishing clear conduct standards for the public. The column suggests that a publicly posted, authoritative guide would foster broader civic discussion and clearer expectations.