Ottawa puts sharper focus on permanent residency for privately sponsored refugees

OTTAWA — The federal government is increasing the number of privately sponsored refugees who are eligible for permanent residency in the coming years and reducing the number of eligible government-sponsored refugees.

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

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

Groups who privately sponsor refugees help them find housing and get established while providing food, rent, clothing and other essentials for their first year in Canada.

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

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

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 10, 2026.

David Baxter, The Canadian Press