Canada’s Refugee Crisis Isn’t About Numbers—It’s About Morality

Back in 2019, I was working my first "real" job at Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in Calgary, Alberta. My job entailed processing immigration loans, calculating financial assistance for newly arrived refugees, and overseeing the monthly payroll for government-assisted refugees in Southern Alberta among other responsibilities. Occasionally, I even had the privilege of welcoming refugees at a local safe house. At this time, the environment among my colleagues and within the federal government was one of affirmative action, hope, commitment, and passion. The tools and measures in place to support refugees were robust, and the moral imperative to help those fleeing conflict was undeniable.

Fast forward to today, and I am witnessing what I can only describe as a complete betrayal of these values. Canada, once a beacon of humanitarianism, is now yielding to right-wing pressure, misinformation, and U.S. political intimidation.

Canada’s Shameful Retreat on Refugee Commitments

In anticipation of the 2025 immigration levels announcement, the Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR) called on the government to increase the number of Government-Assisted Refugees (GARs) to a minimum of 20,000 and to clear the backlog of privately sponsored refugees waiting to resettle. Instead, the government slashed numbers across the board.

• The category for Protected Persons and their Dependents abroad—already underfunded—was cut by 31%. There are over 100,000 active applications in this category, meaning that only 1 in 5 refugees and their family members will be given permanent status. Some have already been waiting over four years for an answer.

• Privately Sponsored Refugees saw a reduction of 5,000 spots, despite private citizens covering their costs.

• The levels for GARs remain stagnant at 15,250, a decrease from past years and a disgraceful drop compared to the growing number of displaced people globally.

Meanwhile, refugees in dire need of resettlement are left waiting in limbo, sometimes in unsafe conditions, as Canada shrinks its commitments instead of stepping up. The failure to act is not just an embarrassment—it is a stain on Canada’s global reputation.

Misinformation, Scapegoating, and the Right-Wing Narrative

In a time of political turmoil and elections, misinformation about refugees is rampant. Right-wing talking points are being regurgitated, feeding a growing hostility toward asylum seekers.

One of the most common myths I keep seeing is that refugees receive "free handouts" from the government, while "regular Canadians" are left to struggle. A widely circulated photo supposedly "proves" that the government is prioritizing refugees over its own citizens. The truth, however, is far more complex:

1. Hotel stays are temporary – Refugees placed in government-assisted hotels receive accommodations for a maximum of 14 days, after which they must move to permanent housing they can afford.

2. These are loans, not handouts – The Canadian government provides travel and resettlement loans that refugees must repay in full. The Immigration Loans Program covers transportation costs to Canada and other initial settlement expenses, with repayment starting 12 months after arrival.

3. Support for refugees does not come at the cost of others – The idea that helping refugees means harming Canadian citizens is a false dichotomy. Canada has one of the strongest economies in the world and has the capacity to assist both newcomers and existing residents.

This weaponization of refugees and government support is a deliberate political tool used to stoke fear and division, often by amplifying misinformation that distorts the realities of resettlement. False narratives about government assistance create resentment among Canadians, while political rhetoric portrays refugees as burdens rather than contributors. In reality, many newcomers face systemic barriers yet go on to enrich their communities through work, culture, and civic engagement. This deliberate misrepresentation fuels polarization and distracts from policy discussions grounded in fact and humanitarian responsibility.

The Trump Effect: Canada’s Weak Response to U.S. Pressure

Canada’s immigration policies do not exist in a vacuum. With Donald Trump returning to the U.S. presidency, the Canadian government appears to be preemptively caving to his anti-immigration agenda.

Trump has already threatened to impose border restrictions and intensify deportations, forcing Canada into an uncomfortable position. Instead of standing firm on human rights and humanitarian principles, Canada has started making policy concessions before Trump even returned to office. The reduction in refugee levels and the tightening of asylum policies align disturbingly well with what Trump would want from a compliant northern neighbour.

A Global Trend Against Refugees: Canada to Germany

Canada’s retreat from refugee commitments is part of a larger, alarming global trend. Across Western democracies, we are witnessing increasing hostility towards migrants and refugees, often fueled by right-wing rhetoric and misinformation.

Germany, long a leader in refugee resettlement, is now facing an internal crisis. Friedrich Merz, the leader of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has openly signaled that his party may align with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) to pass harsher migration laws. In a dramatic and controversial move, Merz stated during a heated parliamentary debate that "it may be that the AfD will for the first time make it possible for a necessary law to be passed." This statement breaks a long-standing postwar consensus of rejecting far-right influence in German politics. The CDU’s proposed migration crackdown, backed by votes from the AfD, marks a significant shift towards restrictive policies, with Merz justifying the move by claiming that the country must take decisive action to prevent crime and social unrest. This development underscores a broader European trend where mainstream conservative parties are increasingly willing to engage with far-right forces to advance their agendas, eroding established refugee protections and altering the political landscape in ways that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.

The justification? A familiar narrative: the false idea that increased migration directly correlates with crime and instability. This rhetoric, eerily similar to arguments made by right-wing factions in Canada and the U.S., is gaining traction across Europe. The result? A steady erosion of refugee protections worldwide.

This isn’t just about Canada. It’s about a global failure of leadership, a willingness to sacrifice human rights for political convenience. From Berlin to Ottawa, we are seeing leaders abandon long-standing commitments to asylum seekers, replacing them with policies of exclusion, fear-mongering, and nationalism.

Canada Must Do Better

Refugees are not a burden- they are survivors seeking a second chance at life. Canada once prided itself on being a global leader in humanitarian resettlement. But today, under mounting political pressure, the government is turning its back on the very people who need protection the most.

Reducing refugee numbers in a time of global crisis is not just a policy failure- it is a moral failure. Take, for example, the thousands of refugees who have been waiting years for resettlement, only to see quotas slashed and their hopes deferred yet again. Families separated by war remain apart, children grow up in refugee camps with no clear future, and asylum seekers who made it to Canada continue to live in legal limbo. These are not abstract statistics; these are human lives being put on hold, or worse, put in danger. Canada has the capacity and responsibility to do better. Canada has the resources, capacity, and obligation to do more. Instead, it is making the conscious choice to do less.

No one benefits from the harm of others. Our homeless neighbours are not a burden. The new family that immigrated to Canada for a better life is not a burden, like my Mother’s family, and above all, refugees are not a burden. As Canadians, we must reject the dangerous rhetoric that pits vulnerable communities against each other. Refugees are not numbers and statistics, they are not and should not serve as political talking points, and as Canadians, we should uphold our values of compassion, inclusion, and support for those in need, rather than adopting the divisive rhetoric seen elsewhere.

Let this be a reminder: A country’s values are tested not in times of comfort, but in times of crisis. And right now, Canada is failing that test.