UN refugee chief says reducing refugee targets is ‘wise’ if it prevents backlash [Video]

It is “wise” of Canada to scale back the number of refugees it plans to resettle if that helps stabilize the housing market and prevents backlash against newcomers, the head of the UN refugee agency said during a visit to Ottawa this week.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and members of cabinet Monday in Ottawa, where the Liberal government pledged $50.4 million to the agency.

His visit comes a little more than a week after the federal government announced plans to cut overall immigration levels by 20 per cent for 2025 — a cut that includes refugees and protected persons.

The government cited pressures on available housing as one of the reasons for the new policy.

Grandi said Canada remains a global leader in resettlement but pro-refugee sentiment is fragile in an economic or housing crisis and it would be “really negative” …