1. How many refugees does Canada accept annually?
Each year, in keeping with its humanitarian traditions and international commitments, Canada accepts between 20,000 and 30,000 Convention refugees and other displaced persons. Roughly half of these refugees are selected abroad for resettlement in Canada; the others are successful refugee protection claimants, who arrive in Canada seeking protection and are accepted by the Immigration and Refugee Board.
2. Who are Convention refugees?
Canada has signed the 1951
Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol. The IRPA incorporates the refugee definition contained in the Convention
.
Convention refugees are persons who:
i. have a well-founded fear of persecution based on their race, religion, nationality, political opinions or membership in a particular social group;
ii. are outside the country of their nationality and are unable or, by reason of that fear, are unwilling to be protected by that country; or
iii. not having a country of nationality, are outside the country of their former habitual residence and are unable or, by reason of that fear, are unwilling to return to that country.
Clauses in the Convention exclude persons who have committed serious crimes, war crimes or crimes against humanity.
3. Do other people need protection?
The IRPA has expanded the concept of refugee protection to cover persons applying both outside and inside Canada who need protection due to similar circumstances. This concept is based on considerations in other international conventions besides the
Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, such as the
Convention against Torture. People may be considered in need of protection if returning them to their country would subject them to torture, a risk to their life, or cruel or unusual treatment or punishment.
4. How are refugees selected abroad?
The Refugee and Humanitarian Resettlement Program continues Canada's humanitarian traditions, by resettling both refugees and persons in refugee-like situations. In addition to government assistance, private sponsorships enable organizations and groups of individuals to help refugees and persons in similar circumstances rebuild their lives in Canada. Each year, the government sets annual targets in the immigration plan.
Refugees selected abroad must be eligible in one of three classes: the Convention refugee abroad class, the country of asylum class or the source country class. They should show an ability to eventually re-establish their lives in Canada, unless they are particularly vulnerable or in urgent need of protection. They must also meet medical, security and criminality requirements. Unlike most immigrants, refugees and persons in similar circumstances do not have to meet certain medical requirements designed to prevent excessive demands on Canadian health and social services systems.
Members of these classes must be referred to a visa office by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) or by a pre-approved private sponsor. If the UNHCR refers them because they urgently need protection, the visa office will speed up processing. When family members are separated, they may be included in the application and allowed to come to Canada within one year of the principal applicant.
The Convention refugee abroad class includes Convention refugees for whom resettlement to another country is the only solution to their situation available within a reasonable period. Individuals selected under this class are eligible for government assistance or may be privately sponsored.
The country of asylum class includes persons outside their country of citizenship or habitual residence who continue to be seriously and personally affected by civil war, armed conflict or massive violations of human rights, and for whom no possibility of an alternative solution exists, within a reasonable period. Individuals selected under this class must be privately sponsored or have enough money to support themselves and their family members.
The source country class includes people who would meet the definition of Convention refugees but who are still living in their country of citizenship or habitual residence, for whom there is no possibility, within a reasonable period, of an alternative solution to their refugee situation. It also includes people who are suffering serious deprivation of the right of freedom of expression, the right of dissent or the right to engage in trade union activity, and who have been detained or imprisoned as a result. Individuals selected under this class are eligible for government assistance or may be privately sponsored.
The source country class applies only to nationals of countries on a schedule. The current schedule includes El Salvador, Colombia, Guatemala, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sierra Leone.
Quebec also selects refugees abroad who are destined for Quebec. For information, see the "
Canada-Quebec Accord" section of this guide.
5. Who may sponsor a refugee?
Organizations and groups of Canadian citizens and permanent residents may sponsor refugees under the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program. Such sponsorships allow more refugees to enter the country, in addition to those assisted by the federal government. Sponsors provide the refugees with basic necessities, such as accommodation, clothing, food and settlement assistance, for one year after the refugee's arrival or until the refugee becomes self-sufficient, whichever occurs first. In exceptional circumstances and with the sponsors' approval, the sponsorship period may be extended to three years. Individuals cannot be sponsors if they are under a removal order, imprisoned, in default of an undertaking or support payments, or subject to citizenship revocation proceedings, or if they have been convicted of a violent crime.
A number of community groups sign sponsorship agreements with the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. Sponsorship agreement holders are pre-approved sponsors. They may issue letters of approval to their constituent groups, thereby assuming responsibility for any default in sponsorship.
A group of five Canadian citizens or permanent residents can sponsor refugees living abroad. Each member of the group must be at least 18 years old, live in the community where the refugee will live, and personally provide settlement assistance and support.
Other groups interested in sponsoring refugees may consider a community sponsorship. This type of sponsorship is open to organizations, associations and corporations that have the necessary finances and that can provide adequate settlement assistance to refugees. An individual may also partner with a community sponsor. Community sponsors must have members in the community where the refugee will live.
6. How can I sponsor a refugee?
Your group can get a
private sponsorship application through the Call Centre or the CIC Website. Send the completed form to your local immigration office. You do not need to identify a specific refugee; the Refugees Branch in Ottawa will match you with one. The sponsorship goes to the appropriate visa office, where a visa officer determines the refugee's eligibility.
For more information on sponsorship, please refer to the
Refugee Protection site on the CIC Website.
7. What assistance does the government give refugees?
Resettlement Assistance Program
CIC provides resettlement assistance to Convention refugees and to members of the source country class admitted to Canada as government-assisted refugees. The funds provide income support, and help people pay for basic household items and immediate essential services, including reception, temporary accommodation, help in finding permanent accommodation and financial orientation. The program also provides links to mandatory federal-provincial programs and services. Income support can last for up to one year or until the refugee becomes self-sufficient, whichever occurs first.
Special initiatives in cooperation with provincial governments and the voluntary sector assist special-needs refugees, such as women at risk. These joint assistance sponsorships help when resettlement is urgently needed or when the refugee family may need longer-term support. In these instances, government and non-governmental organizations combine their resources to meet the needs of the refugee.
Immigration Loans Program
The Immigration Loans Program is funded by a $110-million advance from the federal government's Consolidated Revenue Fund and is replenished by repayments on the loans. Loans are approved according to each applicant's needs and ability to repay.
Loans are made to applicants for permanent residence, mostly refugees and other protected persons, to cover the costs of medical examinations abroad, travel documents, transportation to Canada and the right of permanent residence fee. Disadvantaged newcomers can also get loans to cover expenses such as housing rental, telephone deposits or work tools.
