Research on private refugee sponsorship in Canada examines the complex power dynamics that shape relationships between sponsors and the newcomers they support during the resettlement process. Drawing on interviews with Canadian refugee sponsors, the study identifies how sponsors exercise both power over resettlement by facilitating access to essential services, and power over newcomers by influencing decisions through greater social and institutional knowledge. The findings highlight the distinction between mutualistic approaches that prioritize newcomer autonomy and paternalistic approaches that reinforce hierarchy, emphasizing that awareness of these inherent power imbalances is essential for ensuring ethical, supportive, and newcomer-centred sponsorship practices.