A federal initiative designed to help Canadian employers hire skilled refugees from overseas is facing serious challenges, with processing times ballooning from an initial six months to 54 months.

The Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot, launched in 2018 to address labour shortages by connecting businesses with qualified refugee workers, has left more than 20 companies struggling with production cuts and lost revenue while applicants remain in precarious situations abroad.

Refugees with confirmed job offers are experiencing arrests, evictions, and food insecurity during the extended wait. Despite government assurances about sustainable immigration levels, the delays are affecting critical sectors, including healthcare, engineering, agriculture, and construction.

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