Question Period Note: Refugee Resettlement

There are a growing number of refugees worldwide. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) estimates that approximately 2.9 million refugees will need resettlement in 2025.

The world is still facing a global refugee crisis and Canada continues to be an international leader in refugee resettlement.

Through our resettlement programs, Canada resettled over 51,000 refugees in 2023. This includes our significant commitment to resettle vulnerable Afghans.

In addition, Canada is using other innovative humanitarian pathways to support those in need of protection.

IF PRESSED ON LATEST LEVELS PLAN:

In line with Canada’s longstanding humanitarian tradition to support those in need of protection, the latest Levels Plan has made no changes to targets for government-assisted refugees, allowing the Government to remain in a position to resettle the world’s most vulnerable.

While there is a decrease in the privately-sponsored refugee targets, this is consistent with the broader downward trend across all immigration categories and contributes to ensuring a well-managed immigration system. Even with this change, Canada will remain amongst the top three resettlement countries around the world (along with the United States and Australia).

• In accordance with its annual Immigration Levels Plan, Canada accepts refugees as permanent residents under its Refugee Resettlement Programs. As a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, Canada accepts refugees for humanitarian reasons to align with its international obligations, protect those in need and reunite refugee families.

• Resettled refugees are assessed and approved abroad, and granted permanent residence and protected person status upon their arrival in Canada. Resettled refugees can be admitted to Canada via one of the following three core resettlement programs:

• Government-assisted refugees (GARs) are referred by a designated referral partner, such as the United Nations Refugee Agency, and are government-supported for the first year in Canada.

• Privately sponsored refugees (PSRs) are identified and supported by private sponsors in Canada.

• Blended visa office-referred (BVOR) refugees are referred by a designated referral partner and jointly supported by government and private sponsors.

• In 2023, Canada resettled 23,305 government-assisted refugees, 27,640 privately sponsored refugees and 180 blended-visa office referred refugees.

• Canada continues to be a leading example in refugee resettlement. According to the UNHCR Global Trends Report, Canada was second in the number of refugees resettled globally in 2023.

Resettlement commitments

• To deliver its core Government-Assisted Refugees program, Canada relies primarily on the UNHCR and works with other referral partners to identify and refer cases with the highest protection needs.
• In 2024, through its 2024-2026 multi-year resettlement commitments, Canada has committed to:
• Renewed commitments to Africa and the Middle East (including Türkiye) regions, allocating 12,000 admissions to each region;
• A new commitment for Asia Pacific to address growing needs in the region (e.g., Rohingya and ongoing space for the resettlement of Afghans as referred by the UNHCR) by allocating 12,000 admissions; and
• Maintaining the existing Americas commitment, which is part of the L.A. Declaration, to resettle 4,000 refugees by 2028.

Afghanistan Commitment

• Canada has met its goal to welcome at least 40,000 refugees and vulnerable Afghans, which remains one of the largest commitments in the world. Over 54,730 Afghans are now building their new lives in Canada and making important contributions to their communities.

• We recognize however, that many applications from Afghans remain in process, and many of these individuals are facing a challenging humanitarian situation. We will continue to process eligible applications submitted under these programs on a priority basis.

Human Rights Defenders

• In 2023, through the GAR program, IRCC doubled the number of refugee resettlement spaces dedicated to human rights defenders and their families, to up to 500 persons. IRCC partners with UNHCR, ProtectDefenders.eu, and FrontLine Defenders to deliver this initiative.

• Under this Levels Plan, the Government is maintaining this important program and will continue to work closely with experts on international protection, including in civil society, to identify and reach the defenders most in need of Canada’s protection.

• In 2023, the first year of the expanded commitment to human rights defenders, 210 persons were resettled under this program

If pressed on HRD admissions
• As of September 30, 2024, IRCC has resettled 260 HRDs under this special program stream so far this calendar year

LGBTQI+ Refugees

• In 2023, Canada announced a new partnership with Rainbow Railroad to identify 250 at-risk LGBTQI+ refugees and their families each year and refer them through the Government-Assisted Refugees Program. This partnership helps more LGBTQI+ individuals and their families find safety in Canada, and is in addition to LGBTQI+ refugees referred by the United Nations Refugee Agency and other referral partners.

• These initiatives are part of Canada’s ongoing and significant efforts to provide protection to LGBTQI+ and other vulnerable people around the world.

• Since 2011 Canada has been working with Rainbow Refugee Society to resettle LGBTQI+ refugees through the Private Sponsorship of Refugees program. Under this partnership, the Government of Canada provides the start-up expenses and 3 months of income support for up to 50 privately sponsored refugee cases each year, while the remaining income and settlement support is provided by the sponsoring group. As of August 31, 2024, approximately 320 refugees have arrived through this initiative.

If pressed on Rainbow Railroad admissions
o In Spring 2024, the Government finalized an arrangement with Rainbow Railroad, which was a necessary step before the organization could begin providing referrals under this program. To date in 2024, we have resettled 15 individuals referred by Rainbow Railroad.
o IRCC also continues to resettle LGBTQI+ refugees referred by other partners, including the UNHCR. This data is not available because IRCC does not track cases based on characteristics such as race, ethnicity, religion or SOGIE.

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• The Government of Canada is deeply concerned about the serious human rights violations in Xinjiang affecting Uyghurs and Turkic Muslims. Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims who have fled China may still face threats, including the risk of forced return, or refoulement.

• Canada is offering safe haven to Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims who are living in third countries and are in need of protection.

• Our first priority is the safety of Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims. As such, we are unable to provide any further information about our resettlement operational efforts as it could put these vulnerable people at further risk.

If pressed on why no clients have landed in Canada yet:

• We worked closely with our referral partner for this initiative over the last several months to ensure they have the necessary tools in place, including a Memorandum of Understanding and a Contribution Arrangement, as well as mandatory training and access to IRCC’s referrals portal.

• IRCC is processing applications with a view to landing individuals in Canada as soon as possible.

Resettlement of Yazidis and other survivors of Daesh

• Under this Levels Plan, the Government is maintaining its most recent commitment to resettle family members and extended family members of Yazidi and other survivors of Daesh already in Canada, to further support their integration and settlement in Canada and for them to continue to recover from the trauma they have faced.

• Since 2017, the Government has welcomed more than 1,400 Yazidis and survivors of Daesh and their family members to Canada. Yazidi families in Canada are generally integrating well. However, many continue to struggle with being separated from members of their family.

• In December 2023, a new temporary public policy to reunite Yazidis and survivors of Daesh, who were already resettled to Canada, with their eligible family members, extended family members and de facto dependents living in Iraq, came into effect. 400 principal applicants along with their family members will be welcomed under this public policy. All approved applicants will arrive in Canada as Government-Assisted Refugees.

If pressed on Yazidi admissions
• IRCC is actively working with the International Organization for Migration to complete submission of the first 60 applications, which represents over 200 people.
• We expect to resettle up to 400 principal applicants and their family / extended family members by the end of 2026.

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