Speaking Notes

Janice Charette, Deputy Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, at a ceremony to commemorate World Refugee Day

Toronto, Ontario, June 20, 2005

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Good afternoon. On behalf of the Honourable Joe Volpe, I welcome one and all. I'm delighted to have the opportunity to take part in this very special event with so many of you who have contributed so much to this wonderful country. You have made such a difference and touched the lives of so many refugees from around the world.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees currently estimates that there are 19 million refugees and persons of concern around the globe, looking for many of the things we as Canadians take for granted — hope, dignity and justice.

Thanks to your continued dedication, compassion and commitment, I believe we are moving toward a world where these principles can be found in abundance for all, and where notions like internal conflicts and persecution are relegated to the scrapheap of a bygone era.

Every year, World Refugee Day gives us the opportunity to celebrate the courage and determination of the millions of refugees and displaced persons around the world.

Today, we can celebrate the courage that refugees show as they embark on a future that is sometimes uncertain within an environment which is often very unfamiliar. We have the opportunity to celebrate the courage they show in making their way through often treacherous surroundings.

We have the chance as well to celebrate the courage refugees demonstrate in rebuilding their lives in countries such as Canada that value protection and freedom. So I encourage you all to take part in the upcoming festivities.

Today, we should all take a moment to reflect on the plight of refugees and on what we can do as a society and as a government to help them in any way we can. We need to remember that the global movement of refugees is an international issue that requires international cooperation, collaboration and vision.

And today as well, I think we need to celebrate our own courage to do what's right. We need to celebrate the courage it takes here in Canada as well as overseas to speak up and help in any way we can. We can especially celebrate the courage demonstrated by the staff at the UNHCR as well as non-governmental organizations in Canada who do so much to help the uprooted around the world — often at great personal sacrifice.

We all have a moral obligation and the responsibility to lend a helping hand to people who must flee persecution or internal conflict. We must welcome them to our great country with open arms.

The Government of Canada is firmly committed to these principles and to seeking lasting and durable solutions. Domestically, we're committed to offering protection to genuine refugees and to ensuring that we strengthen our international commitments and humanitarian traditions.

Canada's experience with resettlement and local integration puts the country in a strong position to play a leadership role in promoting durable solutions internationally. In addition, Canada is fully committed to working with our international partners to ensure that protection is provided quickly to those in need.

Their efforts complement Canada's firm commitment to a fair and efficient domestic asylum system. Providing protection to those who need it is, of course, a key to the success of the present system.

All Canadians can be extremely proud of the tremendous contributions that refugees have made to our society over the years.

Refugees bring their experiences, their hopes, their dreams and their skills to help build an even richer and more prosperous society. Her Excellency Adrienne Clarkson was a refugee. Today, our national pages are filled with stories of individuals with just as much potential and just as much drive, perseverance and courage to rebuild their lives in peace and dignity.

So I am especially pleased to be here to receive a commemorative book detailing the personal experiences of refugees and their sponsors from across Canada. Each of their lives contributes to the texture and the vibrancy of our society and is worthy of a book on its own. Together, these stories make up a chronicle of hope, courage and compassion.

This project was launched at last year's World Refugee Day to help mark the 25^th anniversary of the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program. The complete book will now be housed at the National Library and Archives of Canada where all can revel in the stories it tells.

I encourage each and every one of you to view this national treasure.

My closing message to you is a simple one: Welcome to this wonderful event, and let the celebrations begin!

Thank you!