News Release

Canada celebrates World Refugee Day

Ottawa, June 20, 2007 — Today, on World Refugee Day, communities around the world are celebrating the courage and strength of the millions of refugees around the world. Canada’s New Government is joining the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and community organizations across Canada to pay tribute to their resilience and courage. 

“To most of us the fear and persecution refugees are fleeing and the conditions they endure while in exile or in refugee camps are hard to imagine,” said the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. “Yet day after day, these individuals find the strength within themselves to survive.  Their plight is real; their stories are moving  and Canadians are proud of the efforts made to help them.”

With almost 10 million refugees around the world, the issue requires international cooperation and solutions. As part of the global community, Canada is engaged in helping resolve problems before they result in refugee situations and, when refugee situations do occur, h elping find durable solutions. These include: helping refugees integrate into those countries to which they have fled; helping them return home; or resettling them in Canada when appropriate.  To this end, Canada has also increased the number of privately sponsored refugees it accepts, encouraging Canadians to get involved.

Each year, Canada provides protection to more than 25,000 refugees through its asylum and resettlement programs. This year, since January 2007 alone, Canada has made major commitments to provide protection to 2,810 Karen refugees living in camps in Thailand, 5,000 Bhutanese refugees living in camps in Nepal and agreed to accept up to 1,400 Iraqis in the Middle East.

"World Refugee Day in Canada has always focused on the strength of refugees and for their positive contributions to their new communities," said Jahanshah Assadi, UNHCR Representative in Canada. “But this could not have been possible without the strong commitment of all levels of government and individual Canadians, as well as faith-based organizations, and other non-governmental organizations, who work so hard to restore meaning and hope to the lives of refugees in Canada.

Minister Finley added, “So many of the refugees who have come to Canada have successfully integrated into our society and have made tremendous contributions. Their experiences, their hopes, their dreams and their skills have helped build a richer Canada.”

Citizenship and Immigration Canada is working closely with settlement service agencies and private sponsoring groups as they deliver key services and supports to help refugees adapt their talents to a new and very different life in Canada.

In December 2000, the United Nations General Assembly designated June 20 as World Refugee Day to bring attention to the plight of the world’s refugees and to offer support, encouragement and respect. With this year’s theme of “Refugees’ Strength,” the day is an opportunity to celebrate the resilience of refugees, and the contributions they have made to the countries in which they’ve settled.

For further information (media only), please contact:

Mike Fraser
Director of Communications
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-954-1064

Marina Wilson
Spokesperson, Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650

Backgrounder

• Refugees and Canada’s refugee system