Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino announced plans to expedite applications and increase the number of refugees to Canada at a news conference Friday.
This year, the country will increase the number of protected persons admitted from 23,500 to 45,000 and will also expedite the processing of applications for permanent residency, he said.
Over 40,000 protected persons and their families reside in Canada awaiting permanent residency. So far this year, 17,900 became permanent residents.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 another reason that CanadaB次元官网网址檚 light shines brightly, and that is the contributions of refugees themselves in so many ways,B次元官网网址� Mendicino said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e seen refugees give back to their new communities and their countries, even during the pandemic.B次元官网网址�
In addition to expediting applications and increasing the number of refugees to Canada, Mendicino also announced two other initiatives. Bolstering the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot, launched in 2018, will not only allow Canada to welcome more refugees but B次元官网网址渇lips the stereotypeB次元官网网址� of refugees as B次元官网网址渟olely victims,B次元官网网址� his department said.
The pilot recognizes the talents and skills of refugees by welcoming them through economic immigration streams. The government has extended the project for two more years to admit up to 500 applicants.
On Friday, Mendicino announced new measures to improve the pilot process, including waiving fees and expediting permanent residency applications, among others.
B次元官网网址淧eople from all corners of the globe have sought refuge in Canada, people who have started the next chapter of their lives here in Canada,B次元官网网址� Mendicino said.
He also announced more support for CanadaB次元官网网址檚 private refugee sponsorship program by investing up to $3 million over two years to support nine organizations including Rainbow Refugee Society in Vancouver, and Ads-Up Canada Refugee Network in Toronto.
Mendicino announced the three new initiatives ahead of World Refugee Day this Sunday.
Canada resettled more than 30,000 refugees in 2019 and more than 9,000 last year amid the global pandemic.
Canada will also become the second chair of Central America and Mexico Comprehensive Regional Protection and Solutions Framework Support Platform in July, where the government will talk about the protection and empowerment of displaced women and girls.
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