Canada is firm on its commitment to welcoming 40,000 Afghan nationals to the country. As of today, Become A Canadian can confirm that more than 30,600 Afghans have been admitted and resettled in Canada since August 2021.
According to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Canada’s government earmarked over $80 million to finance the Afghan program in the 2022-2023 financial year.
This budget means the Canadian government has the largest program in the world for resettling Afghan nationals and refugees.
More than 30,600 Afghans have been admitted and resettled in Canada since August 2021
Demographics of Afghans who have been resettled in Canada
Become A Canadian established that out of the 30,600 Afghans who have been resettled in Canada, over 10,000 are individuals who previously worked for Canadian agencies and programs in Afghanistan.
Similarly, more than 16,000 Afghans, particularly women and civil activists, have had their applications approved and admitted under humanitarian considerations.
The government of Canada is committed to admitting thousands of Afghans whose lives could be at risk under the new Taliban regime before the end of 2023.
As a matter of fact, about 20,000 applications are still under review for resettlement in the next several months.
While Canada has no diplomatic presence in Afghanistan, a network of Canadian visa officers around the globe have the responsibility of processing applications.
Half of the refugees currently admitted by Canada are women who suffer from the Taliban’s systemic denial of basic rights.
How committed is Canada’s government to this Afghan program?
The government of Canada is fully committed to ensuring that many Afghans at risk of the Taliban’s regime are resettled in Canada. With an allocation of $80 million to fund the program coupled with over 30,600 Afghans already resettled in Canada, Become A Canadian affirms that Canada is fully prepared to welcome at least 40,000 by December 2023.