This fall, Canada’s Minister of Immigration will be announcing the immigration levels plan for 2025 and beyond. Among other things, the levels set will determine how many refugees will arrive through the “Government Assisted Refugees” (GAR) and “Privately Sponsored Refugees” (PSR) streams. The GAR levels have decreased in recent years, and the PSR stream is seeing immense backlogs, which leaves vulnerable refugees overseas waiting for years, even with applications to Canada in process or approved, and is an ongoing challenge for family, friends, and sponsors waiting in Canada, ready to welcome them.
The government needs to hear from Canadians that we support giving an equitable share of the immigration levels to refugees. Therefore, alongside the Canadian Council for Refugees’ submission on the immigration levels plan for 2025, we hope the upcoming immigration levels will reflect the following:
- An increase in resettled refugees (Government-Assisted and Privately Sponsored Refugees) to at least 15% of total immigration admissions.
- As a special initiative, an increase in the 2025 immigration targets for resettled refugees to a level that will allow the large, accumulated backlog to be absorbed. As a matter of equity, Canada should ensure that refugees are not waiting longer for processing than economic immigrants.
Please join us in encouraging Canada to continue strengthening its commitment to welcoming people seeking refuge. Support Refugee advocates and agencies in their shared call for increased immigration levels regarding refugees, which will contribute to equity and justice in access to refugee resettlement, as well as decrease wait times in the Private Sponsorship system.
After the first paragraph is an excellent place for you to add a paragraph about yourself – for example, your perspective as a person of faith, any lived refugee experience, experience with refugee sponsorship, refugee welcome, etc.
To ensure your voice is heard, please send your letters before the end of September 2024.