COW – Redistribution/Relocation of Asylum Claimants – May 28, 2026
Relocation is voluntary and requires consent. Claimants can live or move anywhere in Canada while their claim is processed.
Through Interim Housing Assistance Program agreements with IRCC, Newfoundland and Labrador and New Brunswick are supporting the voluntary relocation of asylum claimants.
As part of these commitments, both provinces collaborated with IRCC to relocate claimants in support of the closure of all IRCC-managed hotels by October 1, 2025.
Over 290 claimants have relocated to these provinces to date.
By March 2027, Newfoundland and Labrador will welcome 290 claimants and New Brunswick will welcome 400.
These efforts help ease regional pressures and connect claimants to housing, employment, and available supports.
Receiving communities also benefit by addressing labour needs in some sectors.
