Glossary

Each year, the Government of Canada plans for the resettlement of a number of refugees from abroad as Government-Assisted Refugees (GARs) and supports these refugees through the Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP). Under RAP, the refugees are supported at approximately the equivalent of local provincial social assistance levels for up to twelve months after their arrival in Canada. Government-assisted refugees consist of members of the Convention refugees abroad class. They are selected from applicants referred by the UNHCR or other designated referral agents, to Canadian visa offices.

GCMS (Global Case Management System) is Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC's) system used to process applications for citizenship and immigration. Sponsorship Agreement Holders can place a request for GCMS notes to IRCC under the Access to Information Act.

 The federal Government of Canada is represented by the Minister for Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada who is responsible for the Citizenship Act of 1977 and shares responsibility with the Minister of Public Safety for the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).

A Group of Five (G5) is one of three groups that can engage in the private sponsorship of refugees. Refugees may be sponsored by any group of five or more Canadian citizens or permanent residents who:

• are at least 18 years of age;
• live in the community where the refugees are expected to settle;
• are not in default on any other sponsorship undertaking; and
• have the necessary resources to guarantee support for the full duration of the sponsorship, usually up to a 12-month period.