A Convention refugee is a person who has a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. This mirrors Canada's obligations under the UN Refugee Convention.
96 A Convention refugee is a person who, by reason of a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion, (a)is outside each of their countries of nationality and is unable or, by reason of that fear, unwilling to avail themself of the protection of each of those countries; or (b)not having a country of nationality, is outside the country of their former habitual residence and is unable or, by reason of that fear, unwilling to return to that country.