1. The Revised SAH Agreement
Presented at the 2017 SAH National Conference, Edmonton, Alberta

2. Presentation Objectives
Review main principles of the SAH Agreement
Highlight key revisions and explanation of why change was needed
Next steps to finalize the Agreement
Qs & As

3. The Importance of the SAH Agreement
Provides the framework and foundation to guide the partnership between IRCC and SAHs, granting authority to sponsor refugees for resettlement to Canada;
Helps to ensure fairness, consistency and harmonization of expectations and responsibilities;
Acknowledges that the foundation of the PSR Program is that SAHs generously provide financial and settlement support to refugees but must not profit financially from their sponsorship;
Recognizes that many SAHs are driven by humanitarian and compassionate considerations and operate largely on a volunteer basis

4. SAH Agreement: History and Areas of Revision
The current 5 year Agreement expires on December 31st, 2017
Agreement revised in 2012 to insert Global Caps and expiration date
Last significant content update other than the 2012 amendments as noted above were made in 2003
Significant increase in new SAHs in last few years requires that the Agreement is more explicit
Objective for increased clarity throughout in particular to Global Caps section, Breach of Responsibility sections (former Suspension and Cancellation sections) and Financial Guidelines for SAHs
Incorporating program integrity aspects, such as ensuring proper screening of sponsors involved in the settlement of refugees as well as post-arrival monitoring

5. SAH Agreement Changes: SAH Responsibilities
Clarify residency requirements as per IRPR R138(a) & R153(a)
Ensure due diligence by screening staff and volunteers involved in support to refugees
SAHs not over-extending capacity in Community Sponsorships and G5s and to circumvent cap space
Ensure CG/Co-Sponsor and refugee notified if Sponsorship Application is returned/refused
Encourage refugees to access settlement and other support services
Report annually to IRCC of any change in organization governance structure
Ensure sufficient allocation space before submitting Sponsorship Applications
Section 5 – Pages 3 - 5

6. SAH Agreement Changes: Global Caps
SAHs may not submit Sponsorship Applications until individual allocations received
Allocations should be released by end of February for applicable calendar year
Section 7 – Page 7

7. SAH Agreement Changes: Processing Moratoria
Section re-named to clarify its purpose
Relatively the same content as previous clause Section 14(e) of old Agreement
Would only be applied in exceptional circumstances that would not allow for cases to be processed, such as host country restrictions (e.g. will not issue exit permits) or other factors impacting processing (e.g. security considerations)
Section 8 – Pages 7 & 8
Different than sub-caps given that a moratorium can occur for one particular country – sub-caps are applied on a specific mission which is responsible for processing out of several countries.

8. SAH Agreement Changes: Sponsorship Withdrawal, Breakdown & Default
Revisions required to align with IRCC resource materials available to the public (e.g., acceptable/unacceptable reasons for sponsorship withdrawal)
SAHs should make reasonable efforts to make alternate sponsorship arrangements which can include finding a replacement sponsor
Clarify areas such as when sponsorship default status may cease as per IRPR 153(4)
Sections 9, 10 & 11 – Pages

9. SAH Agreement Changes: Breach of Responsibilities
Replaces former suspension and cancellation sections in old Agreement
New probationary period of benefit to allow remedial period before going straight to “intent to suspend” as per old Agreement
Outline of possible administrative actions by IRCC
Clarification of SAHs responsibilities in various scenarios
Clarification of impacts to in process or pending refugee caseload
IRCC can suspend or cancel an Agreement at any time
Sections 13, 14 & 15 – Pages

10. SAH Agreement Changes: Appendix 1 - Financial Guidelines
Minimum financial support threshold should, at a minimum, align with supports provided under the Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP), but SAHs should consider other additional social-economic benefits
SAHs should not act as paid representatives and charge associated fees
Refugees are not to be asked to provide funds towards their sponsorship
Increase in administrative fee from $100 to $250
Removal of allowance for SAHs to reduce income support of refugee that refuses a reasonable job offer – SAHs commit to support refugees for the one year sponsorship period
Appendix 1 – Pages 17 & 18

11. Agreement Changes: Appendix 2 - Communications
Clarification of privacy rules and information sharing
Revised communication touchpoints for in-Canada and overseas processing
Clarification of Request for Reconsideration process and role of Case Management Branch
Appendix 2 – Pages

12. Next Steps to Finalize Agreement
Working Group, comprising representatives from IRCC, the SAH Council and Secretariat (with input from the SAH community) will finalize updates to the Agreement
New Agreement applicable to all SAHs by end of December 2017