Close-out report - Syrian Refugees Horizontal Initiative

Horizontal initiative close-out report

Name of horizontal initiative:

Syrian Refugee Crisis: Resettlement of 25,000 Syrian refugees by February 29, 2016, and 25,000 (in total) government-supported Syrian refugees by December 31, 2016 (Syrian refugee initiative)

Start date: November 2015

End date: March 2019

Lead department: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

Number of times renewed: None

Partner departments:

In 2018–19, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) was the only other federal partner that received funding for the remaining activities related to this initiative.

In previous years (2015–16 to 2017–18), federal departments involved in the activities included:

• Global Affairs Canada (GAC)
• Shared Services Canada
• Public Health Agency of Canada
• Department of National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces
• Public Safety Canada
• Public Services and Procurement Canada
• Transport Canada (TC)

Other departments involved in the initiative funded through existing programs:

• Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• Innovation, Science and Economic Development
• Employment and Social Development Canada

Other non-federal partner:

• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees/UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)
• Other state governments, particularly those of Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan
• International Organization for Migration
• Canadian Red Cross
• Community of private sponsor organizations and private sponsors, including the Sponsorship Agreement Holder Council
• Resettlement service provider organizations
• Various communities of settlement/resettlement service provider organizations
• Corporate private sector donors
• Municipal governments
• Provincial and territorial governments

Expenditures

Results

Performance indicators and trend date for shared outcome

Performance indicators

Outcome 1: Syrian refugees are granted protection in Canada and become permanent residents

I 1.1 – Number of Syrian refugees who arrive in Canada as permanent residents within the stated timelines

Trend data

A total of 39,650 Syrian refugees arrived between November 4, 2015 and December 31, 2016.

Outcome 2: Syrian refugees benefit from Canada’s social, health and economic systems and integrate into Canadian society

• I 2.1 - Percentage of adult Syrian refugees who accessed settlement services
• I 2.2 - Percentage of adult Syrian refugees who have access to medical care
• I 2.3 - Percentage of adult Syrian refugees who are employed
• I 2.4 - Percentage of adult Syrian refugees who have a strong sense of belonging
• I 2.5 - Percentage of adult Syrians who obtained Canadian citizenship

Trend data

A high percentage of adult Syrian refugees have accessed at least one settlement service since arriving. The target of 80% was surpassed every year since 2015–16, as indicated below:

• 2018-19 – 85%
• 2017-18 – 87%
• 2016-17 – 94%
• 2015-16 – 88%

I 2.2

In the June 2019 Syria Outcomes Report, results from the 2018 Newcomers Survey indicate that 86% of Syrians surveyed reported having a doctor or health-care provider.

I 2.3

In the June 2019 Syria Outcomes Report, results from the 2018 Newcomers Survey indicate that almost 60% of respondents, reported working and another 23% reported that they were looking for work.

I 2.4

The 2018 Newcomers Survey results indicate that 90% of Syrians respondents reported having a strong sense of belonging to Canada.

I 2.5

It is still quite early for Syrian refugees to meet the residency requirements to be able to apply for and obtain citizenship.

Outcome 3: Canada upholds its international humanitarian reputation by demonstrating to the world that it has a shared responsibility to help people who are displaced and persecuted.

I 3.1 - Proportion of worldwide identified resettled Syrian refugees assisted by Canada

Trend data

I 3.1 – Proportion of worldwide identified resettled Syrian refugees assisted by Canada

• 2019 – 9%
• 2018 – 13%
• 2017 – 14%
• 2016 – 35%

Outcome 4: The health, safety and security of Canadians are protected through rigorous screening of refugees overseas and upon arrival

• I 4.1 - Percentage of Syrian refugee applicants found to be inadmissible (refusal rates)
• I 4.2 - Number of refugees removed from Canada due to identification of post-arrival inadmissibility causes (from the CBSA related to investigations, hearings, detentions, removals)

Trend data

• I 4.1 - The rate of inadmissible applications (refusal rate) processed from November 4, 2015 to December 31, 2016 is 4%.
• I 4.2 - Number of refugees removed from Canada – 9,589 inadmissible persons removed (Note: this is not just Syrians but all removals for the FY)

Brief explanation of performance:

Outcome 1: Syrian refugees are granted protection in Canada and become permanent residents

Between November 4, 2015 and December 31, 2016, a total of 39,650 Syrian refugees arrived in Canada as resettled refugees. All departments and other organizations worked jointly to make it possible, such as GAC, CBSA and TC. Syrian refugees have been located in communities where settlement supports are in place, with consideration given to whether they have family members in Canada, as well as the availability of schools and housing. Privately sponsored refugees have settled in communities where their sponsors reside. Syrian refugees are accessing settlement services, including language training classes and employment-related services.

Outcome 2: Syrian refugees benefit from Canada’s social, health and economic systems and integrate into Canadian society

I 2.1 - Percentage of adult Syrian refugees who accessed settlement services

• Approximately 96% of Syrian refugees 18 years of age and older accessed at least one IRCC-funded settlement service.
• The June 2019 Syria Outcomes Report indicates that overall Syrian refugees accessed federally funded settlement services at a higher rate than other resettled refugees who arrived in Canada during the same period.
• The target of 80% was surpassed every year since 2015–16, which further indicates that resettled Syrian refugees are continuing to avail themselves of the knowledge and information they need to contribute to Canadian society.

I 2.2 - Percentage of Syrian refugees who have access to medical care

• Data in the June 2019 Syria Outcomes Report indicate that 86% of Syrian refugees who landed under this initiative and were 18 years of age or more at the time of the survey reported having a doctor or health-care provider.
• The report also indicates that while the majority of Syrian refugees indicated having a doctor or health-care provider, a lack of language skills, understanding of services and the stigma around mental health were some of the main factors preventing Syrians from accessing health care.

I 2.3 - Percentage of Syrian refugees who are employed

• In the recent Syria Outcomes Report, results from the 2018 Newcomers Survey indicate that almost 60% of respondents reported working and another 23% reported looking for work.

I 2.4 - Percentage of Syrian refugees who have a strong sense of belonging

• The 2018 Newcomers Survey results indicate that 90% of respondents reported having a strong sense of belonging to Canada and 84% reported a strong sense of belonging to their local community.

I 2.5 - Percentage of Syrians who obtained Canadian citizenship

• It is still quite early to expect Syrian refugees to apply for and obtain citizenship. It is also important to note that following the implementation of Bill C-6 (October 11, 2017), applicants must be physically present in Canada for three out of five years before applying for citizenship. Therefore, Syrian refugees who have been admitted since November 4, 2015 will just be meeting this residency requirement.

Outcome 3: Canada upholds its international humanitarian reputation by demonstrating to the world that it has a shared responsibility to help people who are displaced and persecuted.

Canada continues to be recognized as a world leader in newcomer settlement and integration and has intensified engagement with international communities to share and learn best practices. Data on the UNHCR website have shown that Canada leads the world in accepting refugees for permanent resettlement. Canada has accepted 23% of worldwide identified resettled Syrian refugees from 2016 to 2019. The United States was second at 17%, followed by the United Kingdom at 14%.

Outcome 4: The health, safety and security of Canadians are protected through rigorous screening of refugees overseas and upon arrival

I 4.1 - Percentage of Syrian refugee applicants found to be inadmissible (refusal rates)

• The inadmissible applications (refusal rates) from this initiative, processed from November 4, 2015 to December 31, 2016 is 4%. Inadmissible applications refer to those who have failed medical, criminal or security checks.

I 4.2 - Number of refugees in total removed from Canada due to identification of post-arrival inadmissibility causes (related to investigations, hearings, detentions, removals) – 9,589.

Programs receiving ongoing funding: None

Plan (including timeline) for evaluation and/or audit: N/A