A government-sponsored refugee has been referred to Canada through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

SELECTION:

Government-sponsored refugees are placed in RAP (the Refugee Assistance Program). There are two types of government-sponsored refugees.

A. Convention Refugees Abroad Class includes people who are living outside their country of citizenship or habitual residence, usually in refugee camps. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees keeps records of people in their camps and refers them to Canada based on how desperate their situation is.

B. Source Country Class includes people who would meet the definition of a Convention Refugee but who are still in their country of citizenship or habitual residence. It also includes people who have been detained or imprisoned and are suffering serious deprivations of:

• the right of freedom of expression;

• the right of dissent; or

• the right to engage in trade union activity

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There were 8,693 government-sponsored refugees in 2001 and 3,570 privately-sponsored

Toronto is the first choice for most immigrants and refugees. Then it’s Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary or Ottawa

86% of immigrants can speak either English or French

Nine out of 10 immigrant seniors aged 65 and over live with their relatives compared to 6.7 out of 10 Canadian-born seniors

SOURCES: 1996 Census Facts and Figures 2001: Immigration Overview

The Government of Canada created the Women at Risk Program in 1988 for refugee women in desperate circumstances. This program is directed at women:

• whose safety can not be ensured

• who do not have family or friends to support or protect them

• who are vulnerable to the threat of rape and other forms of violence due to the lack of protection

• whose situations are so critical that urgent protection is required

As of 2002, Canada has given safe haven to more than 2,250 women and children under this program.

The Women At Risk Program (external link)

Profile of Settlement Manager Carlos Vialard