Guided by a vision for a vibrant, refugee-responsive Metro Vancouver.
5x more refugee arrivals
From 2022-2024, the Government of Canada has committed to resettling more than 3 times the annual number of refugees (150,000 compared to 45,000 pre-pandemic). Adding to this dramatic increase, the Government responded to Russia’s war on Ukraine by opening a new visa stream—the Canada-Ukrainian Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET)—which has opened the door to +75,000 forcibly displaced Ukrainians since August 24, 2022.
Given that BC receives roughly 10% of Canada’s refugee arrivals and 17-20% of CUAET visa-holders, the next two years will stretch refugee-serving organizations and communities well beyond existing capacities.
Are we refugee ready?
Following the shock of the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, the Government of BC created a Refugee Readiness Fund in November 2021 to ensure that communities are ready to respond to the needs of new refugees. Refugee Readiness Teams (RRTs) were formed in six regions across BC, including Metro Vancouver to better prepare communities to successfully successfully welcome new refugee and CUAET arrivals.