加拿大聯邦政府近日宣布，將在2025年9月終止一項已運行多年的難民臨時安置計畫，該計畫主要是透過政府資金補助，為新抵達的難民提供酒店住宿。這項消息一出，引發外界對加拿大移民與難民政策財政壓力的高度關注。

根據加拿大移民、難民及公民部（IRCC）提供的資訊，自2020年以來，加拿大聯邦政府已為此臨時安置計畫投入超過12億加元，其中包括全國範圍內租用數十家酒店為難民提供過渡住所。最初設計該計畫的目的是為了解決地方庇護資源吃緊的狀況，特別是在移民湧入高峰期間，如阿富汗危機、烏克蘭難民潮及近期來自非洲和中東地區的移民壓力，導致多數省市政府無法即時提供足夠住房。

然而，政府官員指出，以酒店作為長期安置手段不僅成本高昂，也缺乏可持續性。根據IRCC數據，截至2025年7月，仍有485名難民住在安大略省與魁北克省的五家酒店中。僅一晚的住宿費用平均就高達205加元，這對政府預算而言是一筆沉重開銷，尤其在通貨膨脹與公共財政收緊的雙重背景下，這筆支出更顯得難以為繼。

儘管政府將終止該計畫，但並不意味著放棄對難民的責任。IRCC發言人強調，從2024年1月至今，已有超過1.5萬名難民成功實現自立生活，他們在非營利機構和地方政府的協助下，搬入長期住所並開始工作或接受培訓。未來，IRCC將持續與地方機構合作，確保目前仍住在酒店的難民，在 2025年9月30日之前 順利過渡到穩定住所中。此外，加拿大政府也將重點放在提供整合性支援服務上，包括住房媒合、語言課程、職業訓練與心理健康支援等，希望能從根本上協助難民融入社會，而非僅以金錢堆砌臨時庇護。

這項決策也反映出加拿大在處理大規模難民潮時所面臨的兩難：一方面要維持人道立場與國際責任，另一方面也必須兼顧公共資源分配與國內民意壓力。許多省市政府早已呼籲聯邦在移民政策上與地方更緊密協作，以減輕地方財政負擔，提升安置效率。

綜合而言，這次撤除酒店安置計畫代表加拿大政府在難民政策上的一個轉折點。未來政策方向將更多著重在「整合」與「效率」，而非高成本的臨時措施。這也意味著，加拿大的移民與難民政策正逐步從應急轉向制度化與長期規劃。

The Canadian federal government recently announced that it will terminate a long-running temporary refugee accommodation program in September 2025. This program, primarily funded by the government, has provided hotel accommodations for newly arrived refugees. The announcement has sparked widespread concern about the financial pressures facing Canada’s immigration and refugee policies.

According to information provided by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), since 2020 the federal government has invested over CAD 1.2 billion in this temporary housing initiative, which included renting dozens of hotels across the country to serve as transitional shelters for refugees. The program was originally designed to address the strain on local shelter resources, particularly during surges in migration, such as the Afghan crisis, the influx of Ukrainian refugees, and more recent pressures from Africa and the Middle East. These situations overwhelmed many provincial and municipal governments, which were unable to provide sufficient housing in time.

However, government officials have stated that using hotels as a long-term housing solution is not only extremely costly but also unsustainable. According to IRCC data, as of July 2025, 485 refugees were still residing in five hotels located in Ontario and Quebec. The average cost per night per person is as high as CAD 205, representing a significant burden on the federal budget—especially in a climate of inflation and tightening public finances, making such expenditures increasingly untenable.

Although the government is ending the program, it does not signal an abandonment of its responsibilities toward refugees. An IRCC spokesperson emphasized that, since January 2024, more than 15,000 refugees have successfully transitioned to independent living. With support from nonprofit organizations and local governments, these individuals have moved into long-term housing and have begun working or participating in training programs. Going forward, IRCC will continue to work with local agencies to ensure that all remaining refugees currently housed in hotels are transitioned into stable accommodations before the program ends on September 30, 2025.

In addition, the Canadian government plans to focus on delivering integrated support services, including housing placement assistance, language training, job skills programs, and mental health support. The aim is to help refugees truly integrate into Canadian society, rather than relying on costly temporary shelters.

This decision reflects the complex dilemma Canada faces in responding to large-scale refugee movements: on one hand, maintaining its humanitarian commitments and international responsibilities; on the other, managing the fair distribution of public resources and responding to domestic public opinion. Many provincial and municipal governments have long urged the federal government to collaborate more closely on immigration policies to alleviate local financial pressures and improve settlement efficiency.

In summary, the termination of the hotel accommodation program marks a turning point in Canada’s refugee policy. Future directions will increasingly emphasize “integration” and “efficiency,” moving away from high-cost emergency measures. This shift signals a broader transition in Canada’s immigration and refugee strategy—from short-term crisis response to long-term institutional planning.