Ottawa puts sharper focus on permanent residency for privately sponsored refugees

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The federal government is increasing the number of privately sponsored refugees eligible for permanent residency in the coming years as it reduces the number of eligible…

The federal government is increasing the number of privately sponsored refugees eligible for permanent residency in the coming years as it reduces the number of eligible government-sponsored refugees.

The 2027 immigration levels plan, released last week, says about 29,000 refugees and another 20,000 protected persons and family members will be granted permanent residency status annually through 2029.

Overall, the number is similar to last year but within that number, the government is making adjustments to who is eligible for permanent residency.

The number of privately sponsored refugees eligible will increase to 17,500 from 16,000 last year, while the number of eligible government-sponsored refugees will fall to just under 12,000 from more than 13,000 in 2025.

Groups, such as religious societies and community organizations, that privately sponsor refugees help them find housing and provide them with food, rent, clothing and other essentials during their first year in Canada.

Renze Nauta, a program director for the non-partisan think tank Cardus, said increasing the number of privately sponsored refugees is a good idea because they tend to be more successful at integration than those who are aided by the government.

Nauta said Cardus wrote Immigration Minister Lena Diab in September asking that the percentage of privately sponsored refugees be increased after it was reduced last year.

“I think this is an example of where governments do leverage civil society and Canadians who support them, and I think we should do more of that,” he said.

But Lauren Lallemand, co-executive director of the Canadian Council for Refugees, said the shift to privately sponsored refugees suggests the government is off-loading its responsibility onto civil society groups.

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