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.
