Private Sponsor Programs: How the Liberals Succeeded in Bringing 25,000 Syrian Refugees to Canada

During last years' general election campaign, each of the three main parties pledged that if they were elected they would bring in greater numbers of Syrian refugees. The Conservatives pledged 10,000 over three years, the New Democrats said they would take in 10,000 by the end of the year and 9,000 annually after that. The Liberals, the highest of the three, promised to admit 25,000 refugees by January 1st. After winning the election they successfully reached their target on February 27th 2016. This year there are plans to admit another close to 30,000 refugees from Syria.

The government's policies have brought to light an interesting approach to refugee admission policies. According to research, privately-sponsored refugees become more successful than their government-sponsored counterparts or asylum seekers who arrive on their own; due in large part because they have a support group from the moment they arrive.