Disclosure of Transfer Payment Programs Under $5 Million

Name of transfer payment program: Global Assistance for Irregular Migrants (GAIM): Voted

End date: TBD

Type of transfer payment: Contribution

Type of appropriation: The program is appropriated annually through Government of Canada Estimates.

Link to department’s Program Inventory: Asylum

Main objective: As an integral part of the Migrant Smuggling Prevention Strategy, the GAIM program is a voluntary return and reintegration program that provides emergency assistance to intercepted migrants, including food, shelter and medical care. Reintegration support is also provided, often in the form of cash grants and/or business skills development. This program also funds awareness and outreach activities within the countries of origin, with the aim of discouraging participation in illegal migration.

Planned spending in 2019-2020: Up to $3,000,000

Fiscal year of last completed evaluation: 2015–16

Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation (if applicable): This is a Grants and Contributions program with total annual spending under $5 million. As per the Policy on Results, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will consider it as part of the annual departmental evaluation planning exercise by assessing Government of Canada and departmental priorities, risks and needs.

The next evaluation of GAIM is planned for 2020–21.

General targeted recipient groups: International organizations

Name of transfer payment program: Annual Assessed Contribution to the International Organization for Migration (IOM): Voted

End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Contribution

Type of appropriation: The program is appropriated annually through Government of Canada Estimates.

Link to department’s Program Inventory: Settlement

Main objective: Membership in the IOM allows Canada to participate in the Organization’s governance and decision making mechanisms, including efficiency of audit, evaluation and budget-setting practices, through its ongoing participation in the IOM Council and in the Standing Committee on Programmes and Finance.

The IOM is the leading United Nations agency in the field of migration, having joined the UN system as a related organization in 2016. The organization allows Canada to advance international priorities on migration, including:

• helping to ensure the orderly and humane management of migration;
• promoting international cooperation on migration issues;
• assisting in the search for practical solutions to migration problems; and
• providing humanitarian assistance to migrants in need, including refugees and internally displaced people.

Membership in the IOM is linked to the Department’s capacity to meet its objectives, in particular:

• managed migration that promotes Canadian interests and protects the health, safety and security of Canadians; and
• international recognition and acceptance of the principles of managed migration consistent with Canada’s broader foreign policy agenda.

Planned spending in 2019-2020: $2,200,000

Fiscal year of last completed evaluation: 2014–15

Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation (if applicable): This is a Grants and Contributions program with total annual spending under $5 million. The next evaluation of Canada’s Membership in the IOM is planned for 2020–21.

General targeted recipient groups: International organizations

Name of transfer payment program: Migration Policy Development Program: Voted

End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Grant

Type of appropriation: The program is appropriated annually through Government of Canada Estimates.

Link to department’s Program Inventory: Settlement

Main objective: The program’s objectives are to:

• provide funding for Canada’s membership in international forums active in international migration policy development and research;
• gain access to international forums, organizations, projects and activities, and be able to influence them;
• promote research and exchange of information among states on migration issues;
• provide funding to capacity-building and research initiatives related to international migration policies, with a view to advancing Canada’s position on international migration issues, in support of both domestic interests and Canada’s broader foreign policy agenda; and
• support the Department’s expected result of advancing Canada’s position on managed migration and international protection in international forums.

Planned spending in 2019-2020: $1,000,000

Fiscal year of last completed evaluation: 2012–13

Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation (if applicable): This is a Grants and Contributions program with total annual spending under $5 million. The next evaluation of the Migration Policy Development Program is planned for 2021–22.

General targeted recipient groups: Multilateral forums and organizations active in international migration policy development and research.