rich 1.0 Action Network https://actionnetwork.org <link href='https://actionnetwork.org/css/style-embed-v3.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' /><script src='https://actionnetwork.org/widgets/v6/letter/canada-must-remain-open-to-privately-sponsored-refugees?format=js&source=widget'></script><div id='can-letter-area-canada-must-remain-open-to-privately-sponsored-refugees' style='width: 100%'><!-- this div is the target for our HTML insertion --></div> Canadian Council for Refugees | Conseil canadien pour les réfugiés https://actionnetwork.org/groups/ccr https://can2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/share_options/facebook_images/000/520/205/original/Canada_should_welcome_more_refugees(2).png On November 29th, IRCC announced it was pausing until 2026 the intake of applications for private sponsorship of refugees, specifically for Groups of Five and Community Sponsors. The sudden and devastating pause leaves many people high and dry – there are applications which were in preparation for months that were about to be submitted. Now, would-be sponsors need to break the news to the people that were counting on this avenue to safety in Canada that the government has said no before they could even submit the application. The government’s closing of the door on privately sponsored refugees comes in the context of widespread scapegoating by politicians of refugees and other newcomers. Rather than seeing refugees as people in need of a helping hand, we are blaming them for our failures, such as lack of affordable housing. But what we know and see in our communities is that Canadians are still committed to an open and welcoming Canada. Canadians have the will and the capacity to welcome more refugees, and the government should respond adequately to this demand. Can you join me and write a letter? https://actionnetwork.org/letters/canada-must-remain-open-to-privately-sponsored-refugees