After fleeing conflict, abject poverty or persecution in their homelands, new refugees will be asked to repay their travel costs to Canada under a federal loan policy one advocate calls "inhumane." The Immigration Loan Program provides individuals and families money to cover costs of medical exams, travel documents and transportation to Canada. Janet Dench, executive director of the Canadian Council for Refugees, called the burden of debt "devastating." Loan repayment requiredUntil then, refugees are expected to pay back the money. Dench said the fact they would be expected to repay travel costs underscores the unreasonableness of the loan policy.

Source: CBC News November 20, 2016 09:56 UTC