Canada's 'cruel' refugee loans leave non-Syrian newcomers with growing debt, say advocates

Refugee advocates are calling on the federal government to end what they call the "cruel" practice of requiring refugees to pay back interest-bearing loans to cover transport and medical costs.

The federal government is covering the cost of bringing in 25,000 Syrian refugees slated to arrive by the end of February, but advocates say thousands of other refugees are struggling to repay the government loans they were issued when they arrived.