Ottawa, June 20, 2015— Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister, Chris Alexander, issued the following statement to mark World Refugee Day:
“Canada has long been a place of refuge for the world’s most vulnerable, and we continue to have one of the most generous immigration and refugee systems in the world.
“World Refugee Day is dedicated to raising awareness of the situation refugees are facing throughout the world, as well as recognizing the resilience of those who have been forcibly displaced from their homes.
“Canada is actively engaged in the protection of refugees overseas and here at home. Since the Second World War, more than one million refugees have come to call Canada home.
“We continue to work in regions all over the world to provide protection to vulnerable and persecuted groups including Syrian, Iraqi, Iranian, Colombian, Eritrean and Congolese refugees.
“Much of this important work would not be possible without vibrant and innovative partnerships with private sponsors, organizations and others who help us resettle refugees and help them participate fully in Canada’s economy and Canadian society.
“Our government continues to work effectively and collaboratively with the United Nations Refugee Agency and other international partners to ensure Canada lives up to its humanitarian and compassionate tradition of providing protection to refugees.
“Join me today in recognizing World Refugee Day and all the refugees who are now able to call Canada home.”
Watch a new video on Indochinese refugees who settled in Canada after the fall of Saigon at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vh4t358iXxw
For more information on Canada’s refugee programs, visit the CIC website at www.cic.gc.ca.
For further information (media only), please contact:
Kevin Menard
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-954-1064
Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca
Building a stronger Canada: Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) strengthens Canada’s economic, social and cultural prosperity, helping ensure Canadian safety and security while managing one of the largest and most generous immigration programs in the world.
