Seeking a Stronger Welcome to Canada
World Renew and the Centre for Public Dialogue are encouraging Canadian CRC members to speak to their elected representatives about increasing Canada’s level of welcome for refugees.
An action alert released in February explains that the Canadian government’s Immigration Levels Plan for 2026-2028 shows continued cuts to the numbers of refugees that will be allowed to resettle in Canada. “The plan reveals ongoing and disheartening cuts to the number of refugees that will find a safe home in Canada over the next three years,” it explains.
As a Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH) with the Canadian government, World Renew works with congregations and individuals across the country who are ready and willing to help newcomers resettle. Since 1979, World Renew and its partner groups (primarily churches) have successfully sponsored and resettled more than 11,000 refugees to Canada.
The recent cuts to Canada’s immigration numbers mean that more refugees will continue to have to wait in displacement camps and other vulnerable settings rather than coming to Canada, even though sponsors are available to welcome them.
“[We have] repeatedly called for the government to keep its humanitarian commitments by raising the number of resettled refugees in Canada to a minimum of 15 percent of the overall Permanent Resident number,” said the action alert. “In 2026, resettled refugees represent only 8 percent of overall admissions, down from 9.7 percent in 2025 and 10.1 percent in 2024.”
These cuts have real-life implications for millions of refugees around the world who are waiting for a better life.
“I, as part of a church team, have been privileged to welcome many new families to Canada and have been witness to their joy at finding themselves in a land of peace and opportunity,” said Gary VanArragon of New Life CRC in Guelph, Ont. The church has been involved in refugee resettlement for many years.
“It was therefore a shock to me when the government of Canada reduced its global cap and lowered immigration levels,” he continued. “Those reductions meant that conversations we were having with people in our community who were asking for help to bring friends and family members to Canada were ended and that their loved ones would continue to live in difficult and dangerous circumstances. Their grief and disappointment over this development were difficult to witness.”
Numan Tarin, a Canadian immigration consultant who has worked with some of World Renew’s partner churches to help them sponsor refugees, agreed. “As a refugee advocate, I witness firsthand the immense struggles refugees are facing these days. I have been seeing Afghan refugees deported in large numbers from Türkiye, Iran, Tajikistan, and Pakistan. It is extremely stressful and traumatic for them, as well as for their families and those trying to sponsor them,” he said.
Tarin shared about a family he knows who is currently in Pakistan in a vulnerable and precarious situation: “There are four [members of the family], one male and three females, and they are all highly educated individuals who could contribute greatly to Canadian society. They are currently on the waitlist with World Renew for sponsorship. I fully understand how difficult and uncertain it may be for them to be sponsored this year, given the recent cuts. Having gone through this process myself, I know firsthand the level of anxiety and stress that families experience while waiting in unsafe conditions. The male of this family has been taken into custody on two separate occasions by the authorities and was only released after payments were made. Had he not been released, he could have been deported to Afghanistan, where he may have faced severe consequences.”
More positively, Tarin also shared about a refugee who was able to come to Canada in 2020. “This refugee is a medical doctor. Today he serves as a medical professional working on a government-supported project and helps internationally trained doctors obtain their licences,” said Tarin. “He is a strong example of how refugees contribute meaningfully to Canadian society when given the opportunity. Stories like his demonstrate the long-term value of maintaining strong refugee resettlement pathways.”
CRC members are encouraged to send messages to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship and to their Members of Parliament. A sample letter and other how-to instructions are available in the action alert. For Refugee Sunday this year, World Renew is also offering ideas for how churches can get involved. Find resources at worldrenew.ca/resources.
