Research publications

Contents

• 1 Introduction
• 2 Eligibility for Humanitarian Resettlement in Canada
• 3 Statistics
• 4 Resettlement Assistance Program
  
  • 4.1 Income Support Eligibility
  • 4.2 Amount of Assistance Provided
• 5 Immigration Loans Program
• 6 Interim Federal Health Program
• Appendix A – Resettlement Assistance Program: One-time Start-up Allowances and Special Allowances, June 2018
• Appendix B – Resettlement Assistance Program: Monthly Allowances, Federal Minimums and Maximums by Province, June 2018
• Notes

1 Introduction

For many years, Canada has fostered the resettlement of refugees and those in refugee-like situations through government sponsorship. Officials with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)1 working abroad identify individuals who are in need of Canada’s help and who are likely to be able to establish themselves successfully in Canada. In most cases, a referral from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is required before an applicant will be considered.

Two further categories of refugees also exist: privately sponsored refugees, who are assisted by groups of Canadians or by organizations that have an agreement with IRCC, and people arriving in Canada making inland refugee claims.2 This publication addresses only the first category of refugees mentioned, government-sponsored (or government-assisted) refugees, and their potential entitlements.

2 Eligibility for Humanitarian Resettlement in Canada

Currently, there are two classes of government-sponsored refugees or people in similar situations who may be admitted to Canada from abroad as permanent residents on humanitarian grounds.3 The two classes are as follows:

• the Convention refugees abroad class, which consists of those in need of resettlement (that is, there is no reasonable prospect now or in the near future of another permanent solution for them) and who meet the definition of Convention refugee, i.e., they must be outside their own country and have a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, political opinion, nationality or membership in a particular group;4 and
• the country of asylum class, comprising those persons in need of resettlement who are outside their own country and have been, and continue to be, seriously and personally affected by civil war, armed conflict or a massive violation of human rights. In short, the class addresses people in refugee-like situations who do not qualify as Convention refugees.5

3 Statistics

The Canadian government takes in thousands of refugees annually. Recent figures for the intake of government-sponsored refugees are listed in Table 1 below:

4 Resettlement Assistance Program

Government assistance to refugees selected overseas is provided through the Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP), which has two components. First, IRCC provides funding to service-provider organizations for direct services, such as initial reception, orientation and assistance with finding permanent accommodation, navigating the new community, shopping and other basic life skills. The second component consists of income supports for eligible refugees, explained in detail below. Refugees in Quebec do not receive RAP support; instead, the Government of Quebec provides refugees with similar assistance through the Integrating Successfully program.6

4.1 Income Support Eligibility

To be entitled to income support, an individual must be selected to come to Canada as a government-sponsored refugee under one of the two classes set out above. It must be determined that the individual has insufficient funds to meet basic needs – food, rent, clothing and household effects – and that person must also commit either to directly enter the work force or to enrol in employment or language training programs. Eligible newcomers are generally provided with assistance for a maximum of 12 months. However, up to 24 months may be authorized in special circumstances or for special-needs cases that have been assessed abroad.

Further, individuals must sign an income support agreement before receiving income support.7 They are required to show that they understand the terms and conditions of the agreement before being given their first cheque. IRCC makes it clear to program beneficiaries that income support is not an automatic benefit, but rather a privilege that carries with it an obligation on the part of the client to make serious efforts to become self-sufficient. Assistance may be refused, reduced or discontinued in the following cases:

• refusal to take advantage of opportunities to become self-sufficient, such as language training or other courses or programs, as recommended by IRCC;
• refusal to actively seek work or accept any reasonable job offer without just cause; abandoning a job without just cause;
• receipt of employment income by any member of the family beyond that allowable under the program guidelines;
• leaving Canada for an extended period;
• possession of assets beyond those normally possessed by persons requiring financial assistance;
• failure to declare assets or report other income; or
• a change in family situation or living arrangements, such as marriage, family breakdown, death, birth, someone leaving Canada or new family members arriving.

4.2 Amount of Assistance Provided8

Clients are given an initial, one-time start-up cheque for clothing, basic household needs, utility installation or hook-up charges, school start-up costs (if applicable), linens, staples and household goods. In lieu of money, the actual goods may be provided. The maximum amounts payable for the one-time start-up cheque items are provided in Appendix A of this paper.

In addition to the one-time start-up allowances and special allowances, RAP includes monthly allowances for food, shelter, incidentals and other basic expenses. Under the program, the food and shelter portion of the income support money is guided by the maximum prevailing social assistance rates within the province of residence. Government-sponsored refugees are not eligible to receive provincial social assistance benefits while receiving RAP income support. The minimum and maximum amounts payable for the monthly allowances are provided, by province, in Appendix B.

5 Immigration Loans Program

The Immigration Loans Program (ILP) is available to all newcomers to Canada, although resettled refugees constitute the vast majority of the clientele. This is mainly because refugees must pay for their transportation to Canada and other related expenses but are not often able to pay these costs up front. In addition, the funding refugees receive through other sources (e.g., RAP) may not be enough to meet all their expenses.9

The ILP is capped at $10,000 per family. Clients are responsible for paying loans back in full, beginning one year after their arrival in Canada. The timeline for repayment varies based on the amount of the loan, and ranges from 36 to 96 months. Approximately 93% of immigration loans are repaid. However, “[w]here resettled refugees face hardships in repaying their loans following arrival in Canada, the terms of repayment can be eased by [IRCC] (for example by extending the repayment period).”10 If loans are not repaid, the Government of Canada can direct the case to a private collection agency, use income tax refunds to pay the loan or take other legal measures to ensure repayment.

6 Interim Federal Health Program

The Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP)11 offers basic health care coverage to refugees for a limited period. Government-sponsored refugees receive hospital, health care professional, laboratory, diagnostic and ambulance services through the IFHP until they can qualify for provincial health insurance plans. As long as they are receiving income from the RAP or its equivalent in Quebec, government-sponsored refugees are also entitled to supplemental benefits similar to those received by individuals on social assistance in Canada: prescribed medications, limited dental and vision care, devices to assist mobility, and psychological counselling. Lastly, the IFHP covers certain pre-departure medical services for refugees abroad selected for resettlement in Canada.

Appendix A – Resettlement Assistance Program: One-time Start-up Allowances and Special Allowances, June 2018

Appendix B – Resettlement Assistance Program: Monthly Allowances, Federal Minimums and Maximums by Province, June 2018

Notes

*  This document is based on a previous publication prepared by Benjamin R. Dolin and updated by Michel-Ange Pantal, both formerly of the Library of Parliament. [ Return to text ]

†  Papers in the Library of Parliament’s In Brief series are short briefings on current issues. At times, they may serve as overviews, referring readers to more substantive sources published on the same topic. They are prepared by the Parliamentary Information and Research Service, which carries out research for and provides information and analysis to parliamentarians and Senate and House of Commons committees and parliamentary associations in an objective, impartial manner. [ Return to text ]