CIMM – 23.06 – Plan to Resettle 40k Afghans – February 8, 2023

IRCC’s response to a request for information made by the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration on May 12, 2022

Question

Mr. Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe: I'm going to go back to the last answer that was just given about the objective of welcoming 40,000 Afghans by the end of the year. The minister said that was his goal, and he also said that to the Special Committee on Afghanistan, on which I have the privilege of sitting as well. Madam Chair, I would like the minister to provide the committee with a detailed plan of the steps he plans to take to reach his goal by the end of 2022. It could be as simple as a table, but I would like to know the pace that the minister intends to follow to reach his target. I have asked the same of the Special Committee on Afghanistan, but I have not received a reply to date, as far as I know. The minister assures us that he will achieve his goal, and I hope he is right, but he should show us his plan. Is that possible, Madam Chair?

Hon. Sean Fraser: Madam Chair, I would like to clarify that the target is to take in 40,000 Afghan refugees over the next two years, so in 2022 and 2023.

[…]

I can't give you exactly to a person month by month by month. I can give you trends. I can give you what's happened already. I can give upcoming expected flights. There will be certain challenges for people who are in Afghanistan for whom there is not yet a pathway to leave Afghanistan.

Response

The Government of Canada is committed to resettling at least 40,000 Afghan refugees in Canada by the end of 2023. In order to implement this plan, IRCC has developed several special programs and measures reflecting the long and enduring relationship we have built with Afghans, and to protect some of the most vulnerable groups in Afghanistan.

IRCC special programs to resettle Afghan refugees include the following:

IRCC will also continue to explore other options and pathways to bring Afghan nationals to Canada, such as the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot.

In parallel to these efforts, and for those applicants who are in Afghanistan, we will continue to explore all options to facilitate safe passage through exit routes and staging areas. We are working with partners in the region – including state entities, international organizations and non-profit organizations – to facilitate border crossings for clients without visas or passports and to expedite the exit process.

As of June 17, 2022, 15,755 have arrived. While we continue to make progress in processing applications and resettling refugees to Canada, it is difficult to predict the timing of arrivals due to many external factors outside of our control, especially for clients in Afghanistan; however we continue to see a steady pace of arrivals through regular charters. Based on our progress to date, we are well on-track to meet the 40K target by the end of 2023.

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