Canada remains strongly committed to humanitarianism

Vimal Sivakumar
Published: February 26, 2023

Since the 1950s, Canada has been providing foreign aid to less fortunate nations around the world.

Beginning with such things as joining the Colombo Plan to support Commonwealth countries throughout Asia (1950) before progressing to the creation of the Canadian International Development Agency (1968) and other such assistance measures, Canada has consistently done significant work to assist and uphold developing countries across the globe.

Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

Whether this humanitarian assistance has materialized in the form of money, goods or services, Canada’s “international assistance spending” is estimated to have totalled roughly $8.4 billion in 2021. This figure represents around 1.6% of all federal spending, solidifying Canada’s commitment to upholding its international relationships through global humanitarianism.

How has Canada continued this humanitarian tradition through immigration?

A significant part of Canada’s humanitarian commitment has involved welcoming refugees and other vulnerable populations to this country as permanent residents (PRs).

According to the 2021 census, Canada welcomed 218,430 new refugees as PRs over the five-year reporting period (2016 to 2021).

Specifically, 60,795 of these refugees were born in Syria, which accounted for 27.8% of all newly admitted refugees. The other top birth countries of recent Canadian refugee immigrants included Pakistan (7,810), Afghanistan (9,490), Eritrea (13,965) and Iraq (15,505) — the majority of whom were resettled in Canada after a recommendation from either the United Nations, a designated referral organization or a private sponsor.

Finally, over the reporting period of the latest census, Canada also became home to nearly 85,000 immigrants who came to this country as protected persons and were granted permanent residence between 2016 and 2021.

Looking forward

Canada looks to continue being a source of hope for vulnerable people around the world. To continue providing a safe option for relocation to global citizens everywhere, Canada’s latest Immigration Levels Plan — for 2023 to 2025, released on November 1, 2022 — includes the following targets for how many newcomers the country would like to welcome both as refugees as well as on humanitarian and compassionate grounds.

Between 2023 and 2025, Canada aims to welcome some 260,000 total new immigrants under these categories.

In 2023, Canada is looking to welcome a total of 92,290 refugees and newcomers on “humanitarian and compassionate grounds” (19.8% of Canada’s total 2023 immigration target).

The following year, Canada aims to welcome 89,865 combined immigrants under these two categories (18.5% of the total immigration target for 2024).

Finally, in 2025, Canada is hoping to bring 80,750 combined refugees and newcomers (on “humanitarian and compassionate grounds”) to this country. Based on the total immigration target for that year, this figure would represent 16.1% of all target immigrants in 2025.

Note: Annual numbers and percentages vary, in part, because the number of refugees that Canada welcomes for resettlement every year is based on how many people are identified as refugees by both private sponsors and The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) under the Refugee and Humanitarian Resettlement Program.

Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

© CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options.

Share this article
Share your voice
Did you find this article helpful?
Thank you for your feedback.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Did you find this article helpful?
Please provide a response
Thank you for your helpful feedback
Please contact us if you would like to share additional feedback, have a question, or would like Canadian immigration assistance.
  • Do you need Canadian immigration assistance? Contact the Contact Cohen Immigration Law firm by completing our form
  • Send us your feedback or your non-legal assistance questions by emailing us at media@canadavisa.com
Related articles
How to move to Canada from the US
A picture of an arrivals to Canada sign at Pearson International Airport
How IRCC’s new Immigration Levels Plan prioritizes in-Canada candidates
A man views the CN tower from a distance on a cloudy summer day
Can you afford to live in Canada?
Canada ranked 4th best country in the world in 2024
A Canadian flag waving with a tree, and both modern and classical buildings in the background.
Top Stories
Manitoba announces new pilot pathway to permanent residency
Useful Information for Newcomers: Renting vs Buying in Canada
How the Canadian government supports newcomers with Canada Connects
Join our free newsletter. Get Canada's top immigration stories delivered to your inbox.
Subscribe
More in Canada
How the Canadian government supports newcomers with Canada Connects
A multicultural group of youths sit on the steps of a building in Toronto, laughing and socializing.
IRCC to update application fees on December 1
A couple looks to their laptop, credit card in hand, anticipating the online payment of their IRCC fees.
International students in Canada can work 24 hours a week off-campus
A young woman walks while carrying a laptop
IRCC’s backlog continues to grow as department looks to reduce immigration in 2025
A pile on paperwork
Link copied to clipboard