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Canada Only Country To Charge Refugees Interest On Travel Loans: Advocates

The Canadian Press, 11 Sep, 2015 12:29 PM
    VANCOUVER — Canada's controversial practice of charging refugees interest on travel loans is in the spotlight as the global Syrian crisis unfolds.
     
    The federal government requires refugees to pay for their own travel costs and overseas medical exams and will loan families up to $10,000.
     
    But refugee advocates say Canada is the only country in the world to charge interest, at a rate set annually by the Finance Department.
     
    Chris Friesen of the Immigration Services Society of B.C. says other countries including the U.S. and Australia don't require refugees to pay interest.
     
    He says refugees such as Samer Aldhmad, a Syrian father of five living in Surrey, must sacrifice putting food on the table in order to get out of debt.
     
    Aldhmad repaid a loan of more than $7,000 in less than a year using his child tax benefit, although he says he's just grateful to be in Canada.

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    Abbotsford Man Vishal Bajaj, 26, Charged With Drug Trafficking For Second Time

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    'Terrorist, Go Back': Elderly Sikh Man Brutally Assaulted In Chicago, Called 'Bin Laden'

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    Toronto Woman Launches $1m Lawsuit Against Starbucks, Indo-Canadian Supervisor For Alleged Assault

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    Hussein Rahim, Syrian Seeking Refugee Status Says He's In Limbo Years After Arriving In Canada

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    Judge Denies Bail To Guido Amsel, Winnipeg Man Accused Of Sending Letter Bombs

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    Darwin, The Ikea Monkey, To Remain At Sanctuary After Change Of Ownership

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    Darwin — who became famous in 2012 when he was found wandering outside a Toronto Ikea store wearing a shearling coat — has been living at Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary since a court placed him there.

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