OTTAWA - The federal government is cutting the number of spots available in its refugee permanent residency streams for next year.

The updated immigration levels plan shows 49,000 spaces for refugees seeking permanent residency in 2026, down from about 58,000 this year.

The Canadian Council of Refugees points out the federal budget also contains a one-time initiative to grant permanent residency to an additional 115,000 protected individuals who are already in Canada.

The levels plan also suggests giving permanent residency to 5,800 people under special humanitarian programs to welcome people who fled to Canada from Hong Kong, Ukraine and Sudan.

Roy Lee of the Hong Kong Pathways Alliance says his group wants to see a one-time program to accelerate permanent residency for special humani

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