Question Period Note: Impacts of COVID-19 on Refugee Resettlement

COVID-19 has impacted the ability of Canada and other countries to protect refugees through resettlement.

• Canada’s border restriction measures, coupled with the temporary suspension of resettlement departures by Canada’s primary resettlement delivery partners – the United Nations Refugee Agency and the International Organization for Migration – have resulted in a very limited number of resettlement movements for overseas refugees.

• Canada continues to consider requests from the United Nations Refugee Agency to resettle refugees in urgent need of protection on a case-by-case basis.

• Exemptions to air travel restrictions announced on March 21, 2020 may allow some refugees to travel to Canada, should they meet the criteria and have the required travel documents. Refugees who meet these exemptions still face significant barriers to travel, as a result of limited flight availability and capacity of partners to assist with movements.

• For resettled refugees in Canada, service provider organizations and private sponsors will focus on delivering critical resettlement and settlement services until further notice. This includes income support and immediate and essential services for all resettled refugees, as well as counselling on COVID-19 measures, including mandatory quarantine or isolation.

• Canada will resume overseas refugee resettlement when conditions permit and honour its international humanitarian commitments.

• The Government of Canada has implemented a number of temporary measures, including travel restrictions, to protect the health and safety of Canadians and reduce the spread of COVID-19. This has resulted in a limited number of resettlement movements for overseas refugees.

• On March 17, 2020, Canada’s primary overseas partners in administering refugee resettlement operations, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), announced the temporary suspension of resettlement travel for refugees.

• Canada relies on referrals from the UNHCR, other designated referral organizations and private sponsorship groups to identify refugees in need of resettlement. The IOM is responsible for providing processing and transit assistance to refugees, including but not limited to: transporting refugee applicants to and from selection interviews with Canadian staff, delivering “Canadian Orientation Abroad” training which prepares refugees for life in Canada, arranging and completing immigration medical exams and delivering pre-departure medical services to refugees, and coordinating travel to Canada for refugees who are approved for resettlement.

• Exemptions to air travel restrictions were announced on March 21, 2020 and updated on March 26, 2020. Although certain resettlement applicants are exempt from the travel ban, there are limitations on who can be resettled at this time, given capacity constraints of partners abroad and in Canada which render travel very challenging. Conditions to facilitate departure vary by country, and departures may not be possible due to various factors, including, but not limited to, domestic movement restrictions, ability to obtain exit permits, airport closures and flight availability in some countries.

• All air travellers, including refugees, must pass a health screening before boarding their flights to Canada. Anyone who shows symptoms of COVID-19 will not be allowed to enter Canada by air. New measures were announced on April 17, 2020 requiring all air passengers to have a non-medical mask or face covering to cover their mouth and nose during travel.

• All travellers arriving in Canada must undergo another health screening at the port of entry, and present a credible quarantine plan when asked by a border services officer and/or a public health quarantine officer. Travellers with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 must quarantine for 14 days. Travellers without symptoms consistent with COVID-19 must quarantine for 14 days. The capacity of service provider organizations and private sponsors to provide adequate support to refugees while respecting these and other Public Health Agency of Canada and provincial guidelines related to Covid-19 is a further constraint upon resettlement.

• Canada will continue to consider requests from the United Nations Refugee Agency to resettle refugees in urgent need of protection due to high risk of imminent physical harm on a case-by-case basis.

• IRCC is maintaining regular contact with service provider organizations and private sponsors in Canada to provide them with consistent information on federal policy responses to COVID-19, as well as raise their awareness of resources and tools that are available in multiple languages, and guidance on counselling newcomers on COVID-19 measures, including mandatory quarantine or isolation. The Refugee Sponsorship Training Program has regular COVID-19 updates on its website including RSTP services that are available virtually, as well as COVID-19 information in multiple languages.

• For resettled refugees already in Canada, service provider organizations and private sponsors will focus on delivering critical resettlement and settlement services until further notice. This includes income support, immediate and essential services, case management, including critical medical appointments and crisis counselling, and medical referrals and interpretation. Non-critical services may be provided by some organizations by telephone, email or online.

• Canada intends to uphold its international commitments, and overseas refugee resettlement will resume once conditions allow, which includes ensuring that there are appropriate measures in place to support the refugees upon arrival.

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