A Nova Scotia care organization has withdrawn job offers previously extended to refugees, leaving them stranded in some of the largest refugee camps globally without an exit strategy. Juma Asukulu Shauri, a 33-year-old refugee residing in the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya for 16 years, expressed deep distress upon learning about the revocation of the job offers.
RefugePoint, a global humanitarian organization, disclosed that Northwood, a long-term care provider in Nova Scotia, rescinded job offers to 18 refugees who were invited to Canada through the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP). This federal program aims to assist skilled displaced individuals in finding new homes while addressing labor shortages in Canada.
Jennifer Wilson, the chief operating officer of RefugePoint, criticized Northwood’s actions, emphasizing that many candidates had been waiting for years to relocate to Canada and were in the final stages of the program. Wilson highlighted the urgency of securing housing for the candidates to enable their immediate departure.
The job offer withdrawals occurred amid a record high number of refugees globally, which has been exacerbated by cuts to foreign aid from countries like Canada and the United States. Following the incident, RefugePoint terminated its partnership with Northwood.
Northwood declined to comment on the matter but stated that the job offers were initially extended in good faith several years ago. Callie Gallant, Northwood’s director of marketing and communications, mentioned that due to prolonged processing times and increased local recruitment efforts, many positions were filled through alternative means.
Despite setbacks, Canada’s EMPP has facilitated the relocation of over 1,200 individuals in various sectors, including health care. The program has encountered delays, with IRCC reporting that 80% of completed applications are processed within 18 months. The federal government has temporarily halted the program due to application volume surpassing capacity.
Shauri, who fled Congo in 2010 after losing family members to armed groups, expressed disappointment and stress over the situation. Similarly, Idris Abussin Adam, a Sudanese refugee residing in Kakuma for 14 years, had to explain to his daughter why their plans to move to Canada were canceled. Despite the challenges, both individuals remain hopeful about the possibility of relocating to Canada in the future.