Fact check: What is the average yearly stipend for refugees in Canada?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the available analyses, there is no single definitive answer for the average yearly stipend for refugees in Canada, as the amount varies significantly depending on several factors including family size, province, and type of refugee status.

The most specific figure comes from one analysis indicating that an individual refugee would receive approximately $1,100 per month in temporary minimum assistance, translating to around $13,200 per year ^[1]. However, another source provides a different figure, stating that a single person received $781 per month in Ontario as of July 2013 through the Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) ^[2], which would equal approximately $9,372 annually.

Government-assisted refugees specifically have access to financial assistance through the federal Resettlement Assistance Program, which is generally provided for one year maximum and only if recipients do not have their own financial resources or income ^[2]. The exact rates are tied to social assistance rates and depend on family size ^[2].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several crucial contextual elements that significantly impact the answer:

• Different categories of refugees exist - government-assisted refugees, privately sponsored refugees, and asylum claimants may receive different levels of support
• Provincial variations - assistance rates vary by province, as evidenced by the specific Ontario rate mentioned ^[2]
• Time limitations - the RAP assistance is typically limited to one year maximum ^[2]
• Eligibility requirements - assistance is only provided to those without their own financial resources ^[2]
• Additional costs beyond stipends - one analysis mentions that beyond direct payments, there are accommodation costs, with the federal government paying $140 per night per room on average, plus $84 per claimant for daily meals ^[3]

Organizations and government agencies benefit from maintaining clarity around these figures to ensure proper resource allocation and public understanding, while anti-immigration groups might benefit from inflating these numbers to generate opposition to refugee programs.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

While the original question appears neutral, it oversimplifies a complex system by seeking a single "average" figure. The analyses reveal that misleading claims about refugee support amounts are common ^{[1] [3]}, suggesting this topic is frequently subject to misinformation.

The question's framing as seeking an "average yearly stipend" may inadvertently perpetuate misconceptions that all refugees receive the same standardized payment, when in reality the system is highly variable based on individual circumstances, family size, province, and refugee category. This oversimplification could contribute to public misunderstanding about how refugee assistance actually works in Canada.