Basic rule -  refugees are not immigrants.  

Refugees are permitted by our law to enter Canada legally or illegally and seek protection per the Immigration and REFUGEE PROTECTION Act (IRPA) implementing our international obligations per the various international conventions relating to refugee protection.  Note s. 133 that exempts refugees from charges for illegal entry to Canada.

Persons who claim refugee status and remain in Canada as permanent residents are a tiny percentage of the yearly landings of immigrants known as Refugees Landed in Canada class (RLC)  The greatest number of immigrants come under the economic classes and are subject to the points system.  In 2010 only 3% of total landings were by the RLC class.  And the RLC do better economically than government sponsored refugees.  Earnings lag slightly compared to Canadians but by year five they catch up.

See Refugees Landed in Canada - Findings from the Longitudinal Immigration Database (IMDB) published in March 2012