Summary of Understanding the Evolving Nature of Refugee Sponsorship in Canada: A preliminary investigation into the rise of family-linked sponsorship

The ability to name refugees for private sponsorship has largely transformed Canada’s Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program (PSRP) into a program characterized by family reunification, creating an echo effect phenomenon. This preliminary study surveys family-linked sponsorship and its impact on newcomer integration. It finds that nearly 95% of PSR sponsorships since 2002 have been family-linked and that integration experiences differ depending on the sponsor and sponsorship types.