Canada is spending $21 million to help Afghans who have fled to central Asia and Pakistan to escape the Taliban Afghanistan – and is also planning to resettle over 136,000 refugees in the next three years, says Immigration Minister Marc Miller.

“With over 114 million people displaced globally, we have a responsibility to step up and take action to address the global migration crisis,” said Miller at the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva, Switzerland.

“The forum has been an opportunity to connect with other government leaders, refugees, international business leaders, non-governmental organizations and international organizations, all driven by a deep sense of individual and collective responsibility and commitment to do more. 

“Canada will continue to do our part by making meaningful, life-saving pledges that give more opportunity and hope to refugees and displaced people around the world.”

In 2022, Canada resettled over 46,500 refugees from 80 countries. This was the fourth straight year that Canada was the top receiving country of refugees.

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Canada’s commitment to refugees includes protection for those the country considers to be the most vulnerable, including women in precarious situations, ethnic and religious minorities, members of LGBTQI+ communities, Rohingya refugees and human rights defenders.

Tsering Thonsur, an advisor to the Refugee Advisory Network of Canada, was born a stateless Tibetan refugee in India and is proud of Canada’s leadership in refugee protection.

“Recognition of the expertise of refugees is vital in strengthening refugee responses at all levels,” said Thonsur. 

“Refugees are resourceful partners. I hope that commitments made at the 2023 Global Refugee Forum lead to more equitable, expedited responses for refugees.” 

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Building on Canada’s recent work to welcome over 40,000 vulnerable Afghans, which has been achieved and exceeded, the new funds announced by the immigration minister will go to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to help neighbouring countries with these refugees become better equipped to support them and respond to their needs.

Miller has announced that the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP), a refugee labour mobility pathway, will become a permanent economic immigration program.

In late December 2022, Ottawa demonstrated its support for the EMPP with an additional investment of $6.2 million to help partner organizations run six projects and bring more skilled refugees to Canada.

EMPP To Become A Permanent Immigration Program, Says Immigration Minister

“Resettlement provides refugees with the opportunity to live safely and rebuild their lives but it shouldn’t mean their career experience gets overlooked in the process,” said then-Immigration Minister Sean Fraser.

“Through this ground-breaking program, our government is highlighting skilled refugees’ professional achievements by allowing them to continue their career in Canada while giving employers access to a pool of global talent.”

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is now also hoping to create an education pathway for eligible refugees and displaced students to study in Canada.

At the forum, Canada also co-sponsored the Securing Sustainable Futures mega-pledge to help all refugee children receive a quality education, including access to well-supported national education systems. 

Canada and its partners provide pre-arrival and post-arrival support services to help refugees prepare and successfully integrate into their new communities in Canada. 

The country is providing $14 million to support the IOM in continuing to deliver its pre-arrival services for refugees, such as transportation and accommodation grants, interpretation, travel costs, meals and childminding, through the Canadian Orientation Abroad Program (COAP)