UN leader approves Canada's decision to accept fewer refugees

Photo: Adrian Wyld The Canadian Press United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa on Monday.

Laura Osman – The Canadian Press in Ottawa

Published yesterday at 10:23 a.m. Updated yesterday at 1:25 p.m.

• Canada

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees says it makes sense for Canada to reduce the number of new refugees it plans to resettle if it helps stabilize the housing market and avoids a backlash against newcomers.

Filippo Grandi met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa on Monday.

His visit comes just over a week after the federal government announced plans to cut overall immigration levels by 20 per cent by 2025 – a reduction that includes refugees and protected persons.

The government cited pressures on available housing as one reason for the new policy.

Mr. Grandi says Canada remains a world leader in resettlement, but that pro-refugee sentiment is fragile in an economic or housing crisis and it would be “really bad” to see it destroyed.

200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000

“Without quality housing, integration is difficult or threatens social cohesion between residents of Canada who are affected by the housing crisis and people who are arriving and competing for housing,” he said in an interview Monday.

“I think in these situations it’s wise to get things in order, to stabilize, to consolidate, because otherwise you have a lot of immigrants coming in, which is great in a global context, but it could create problems, negative reactions at the local level.”

He added that when economic or housing crises hit, refugee integration has to be managed with extreme caution.

The new targets would see the projected number of refugees granted permanent resident status in Canada reduced by 14,400 in 2025 compared to the plan set out last year.

The reduction is even steeper for protected persons in Canada and their dependents abroad, who are expected to drop by 31 per cent compared to the government's previous plan.

The move has been condemned by migrant groups, including the Canadian Council for Refugees, which called the new plan dangerous and a betrayal.

“It is no exaggeration to say that today's actions will rob children of their futures and destroy families. “People will lose their lives,” Council Speaker Diana Gallego said in a statement when the Liberals unveiled their new plan.

Canada has played a major role in resettling Syrian, Ukrainian and Afghan refugees in recent years, though programs for each have varied.

The proposed targets will allow Canada to meet all of its existing refugee commitments, Immigration Minister Marc Miller said, but the government must now take stock.

“If we want to continue to be an open and welcoming country, there have to be reasonable parameters around the different envelopes in which we welcome people. Otherwise, they're all at risk,” he said in an interview.

Mr. Grandi said he hopes the targets can be raised again once the country has the resources and housing to integrate the new arrivals.

Also read

• Ottawa lowers permanent immigration thresholds, Quebec wants even less
• A majority of Canadians believe there are too many immigrants in the country
• Why have we been talking so much about immigration in recent weeks? ?