Private Sponsorship

Newcomers often rely on sponsors to help them settle into a new society, but sometimes problems arise. Conflicts can happen between newcomers and their sponsors or with others in the community. These conflicts, caused by different information, needs, values, or relationship issues, can make it hard for newcomers to fit in if not resolved properly.

Sponsorship groups are responsible for providing income support, plus start-up costs, to the refugee(s) they sponsor.

The Private Sponsorship of Refugee Program involves two groups: the sponsors and the refugee applicants. Each has rights and responsibilities at every stage of the sponsorship that need to be understood by everyone involved in the sponsorship.

Individuals cannot be private sponsors by themselves. They must be part of a Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH), a Group of Five (G5) or Community Sponsors.

The 1976 Immigration Act was the first immigration act that clearly defined refugees as a distinct class of immigrants and required a mandatory responsibility on the government to plan for the future of immigration.