ottawa –
Immigration Minister Mark Millar said most private refugee sponsorships had recently been suspended because there was an “oversupply” of applications and he did not want to give false hope to people fleeing conflict zones. said.
On November 29, the government announced a moratorium on privately funded asylum applications by local organizations and groups of five or more people. The suspension is effective immediately and continues until December 31, 2025.
Immigration authorities say there are currently more than 90,000 civilian refugee applications that need to be processed. The government plans to take in 66,000 privately funded refugees over the next three years.
Some refugee aid groups say they were caught by surprise by the suspension and called for an increase in the number of refugees admitted to more effectively clear the backlog of applications.
Over the past year, the government has reduced the number of new arrivals to Canada, including students, temporary workers and permanent residents.
Miller said many aid organizations have been preparing for changes since the government’s wide-ranging immigration plan was announced in October, and the suspension of refugee assistance means the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada will not be able to keep up with the volume of aid. “It’s an unfortunate reality,” he said. of the application.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 3, 2024.
