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The Diocese of Edmonton has been a refugee Sponsorship Agreement Holder for decades and has helped support newcomers to Canada from around the world. In the last two years, we have seen a dramatic reduction in the number of spaces available for applications for privately sponsored refugees. This ongoing reduction in capacity will greatly impact people working in Canada, the families that have been hoping and saving for sponsorship, individuals and families caught in dangerous and desperate situations abroad, and parishes whose work with refugees forms a vital part of their outreach ministry.

This grassroots campaign comes from AURA (Anglican-United Refugee Alliance), which is the refugee sponsorship organization associated with the Diocese of Toronto:

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO SAVE THE PRIVATE SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM AND HELP CANADA REMAIN A COUNTRY THAT PROTECTS REFUGEES!

Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAHs) privately sponsor refugees from around the world. We have the money, housing, and all settlement supports ready for refugees, many of whom have family members in Canada ready to welcome them. However, our government is slashing the number of privately sponsored refugees. There will be fewer privately sponsored refugees arriving, and now we are severely restricted in how many new refugees we can apply to sponsor.  The government reduced our ability to sponsor by 54% for 2026 compared to 2025. This unprecedented reduction has major impacts for our staff, volunteers, communities, and refugees around the world. 

This means that collectively, the 143 SAHs in Canada will only be able to submit new applications to sponsor 5000 refugees (individuals) in 2026, despite requests and capacity to sponsor many, many more.

The association that represents SAHs has asked the Minister of Immigration to double this number, the Global Cap, increasing it to 10,000 refugees for 2026. This would still be a reduction but would not put the entire program’s future at risk. 

We are now calling on YOU to help us show the Minister and other government representatives that you support this request.

THIS WILL TAKE 1 MINUTE. YOU CAN DO IT IN A FEW CLICKS: 

Step 1: CLICK HERE 
Step 2: Enter your name and address, click “Start Writing”
Step 3: The letter we created will appear. You can edit it or send it as is. 
Step 4: Click “Send”

We are hopeful that if enough people express their support, the Minister will increase the number.