As Russianweek.ca notes, a similar picture has been observed over the past six years. In 2017, 8,200 foreigners who did not obtain status allowing them to stay in Canada were deported. Of these, 3,639 failed refugees voluntarily left Canada, paying for their own return. The rest were deported at government expense, and some even required an escort.
According to the border agency, deportation costs vary depending on the country to which people are sent and the means of transportation. On average, deporting one person costs about $1,500. If deported with an escort, the amount rises to $15,000.
Immigration law expert Sharry Aiken from Queen's University noted in an interview with CBC News that many people subject to deportation are forced to go underground or hide from immigration authorities simply because they lack the money to return home. In her opinion, Canada could follow the example of other countries, including some European ones, which offer generous repatriation benefits. As practice shows, buying off an illegal migrant is often cheaper than spending funds on their forced removal from the country.