Question Period Note: Refugee Resettlement During COVID-19

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

• Canada has a proud and long-standing tradition of responding to the needs of vulnerable people.
• During the COVID-19 pandemic, refugee resettlement to Canada has been limited by border restriction measures, combined with travel restrictions in place globally.
• In light of the easing of global travel restrictions in some regions, Canada is working with partners to facilitate resettlement of refugees where conditions allow and where appropriate measures are in place to support them upon arrival.
• The Government will confirm that Resettlement Assistance Program Service Provider Organizations and private sponsors have capacity to support refugees prior to their arrival in Canada.
• Canada will continue to facilitate refugee resettlement as conditions permit and honour its international humanitarian commitments.

If pressed
• For resettled refugees already in Canada, service provider organizations and private sponsors will focus on delivering critical resettlement and settlement services. This includes income support and essential services for all resettled refugees, as well as counselling on COVID-19 measures.

• 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. On June 18, 2020, UNHCR and IOM announced the resumption of resettlement departures.

• 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. Although certain resettlement applicants are exempt from the travel ban, there are limitations on who can be resettled at this time, given conditions abroad and capacity constraints of partners 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.

• As global travel restrictions begin to ease and partners abroad resume resettlement activities, IRCC is facilitating travel for government-assisted, blended visa office-referred and privately sponsored refugees exempt from Canada’s air travel restrictions.

• In locations where travel is possible, Canada will confirm sufficient support is available from Resettlement Assistance Program Service Provider Organizations and private sponsors prior to advising IOM to proceed with booking travel. This support includes assisting refugees in complying with the mandatory isolation or quarantine requirements set out by the Public Health Agency of Canada.

• 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. All air passengers are required 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 isolate for 14 days. Travellers without symptoms consistent with COVID-19 must quarantine for 14 days.

• Canada Border Services Agency and Public Health Agency of Canada are collecting additional information from travellers upon arrival in Canada on their quarantine plans and contact information, to enable compliance and enforcement by PHAC, contact tracing, and to share information with Provinces and Territories.

• 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.

• 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 will continue to facilitate refugee resettlement as conditions allow, which includes ensuring that there are appropriate measures in place to support the refugees upon arrival.

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