Citizenship and Immigration Canada might extend LGBT refugee program

Citizenship and Immigration Canada says it's considering a request to extend a program that helps bringgay refugees to Canada, followingconcerns from Halifax activists.

The Rainbow Refugee Assistance Program receives third-party funding from the department as a pilot project to help cover the cost of sponsoring overseas LGBT refugees to come to Canada.When the program started, $100,000 was set aside to help sponsor LGBT refugees.

On Tuesday, activists from the Halifax-basedRainbow Refugee Associationexpressed concernthe program would be cut, putting people in danger.

The federal programprovides about $3,000 for each refugee.

"We fear that the end of this funding will seriously undermine the progress made in increasing the private resettlement of [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queerand intersex] refugees," wrote the privategroup on its website.

On Wednesday morning,Citizenship and Immigration Canada said it's considering extending the pilot program.

"We rely on Canadian citizens and permanent residents to come together to sponsor refugees and help them find protection and build a new life here in Canada,"said NancyCaron, media relationsadvisorfor Citizenship and Immigration.

"Private sponsors can help to resettle some of the people most in need of protection in the world, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered refugees."

Citizenship and Immigration Canada says since 2011, the programhas helpedsponsor 32 refugees. Nine live in Nova Scotia.

Over the past 18 months, the Rainbow Refugee Association of Nova Scotia has sponsored five Iranians. They are still awaiting the arrival of two of them.