Canada reaffirms its humanitarian concern and international obligations on World Refugee Day

To bring attention to the plight of world’s refugees and to offer support, encouragement and respect, June 20 is celebrated as World Refugee Day around the globe. The theme for this year was “Protecting Refugees: Rebuilding Lives in Safety and Dignity”.

As a leading advocate for the protection of refugees around the world, Canada is particularly committed to working with the international community to find lasting solutions for refugees who have been living in exile for decades. Canada resettles refugees from abroad and takes part in international actions to help prevent refugee situations from developing. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) also works at home to provide protection to those who make asylum claims in Canada.

Canada accepts more than 30,000 refugees every year. This includes those who come to Canada and successfully claim refugee status and refugees living overseas that Canada agrees to resettle. In fact, through its Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP), Canada selects 10,000 to 12,000 refugees annually from around the world, making it a global leader in resettlement efforts. These refugees represent 10 per cent of the 100,000 refugees who are resettled every year worldwide.

Canada is also a strong supporter of the United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees (UNHCR) to support relief efforts, who provides protection and promotes durable solutions. Last year, Canadian funding helped the UNHCR to support the voluntary return of more than 365,000 individuals from Pakistan and Iran to their homes in Afghanistan.

In 2008, Canada will select 7,300 to 7,500 government-assisted refugees through its RAP and 3,300 to 4,500 through the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program. To reach this target, Canada has announced the resettlement of an additional 1,300 Karen refugees from Myanmar and up to 2,000 Iraqi refugees in addition to up to 5,000 Bhutanese refugees that would be resettled over the next three to five years.

To help refugees settle and integrate into their new communities, CIC works closely with provinces, settlement service providers and private sponsors across Canada except Quebec, which deals these issues itself under the Canada-Quebec Accord. To support these initiatives, CIC also provides stakeholders necessary funding through its assistance program.

As part of this Day’s celebrations, Canada has announced enormous fundings for its partner agencies across the country to assist thousands of refugees in their resettlement. These fundings are part of more than $49 million package that has been set aside for 2008-09 under the RAPs. The major beneficiaries of this funding would be the provinces of Ontario ($18.5 million), Alberta ($7.0521 million), British Columbia ($6.5 million) and Saskatchewan ($3.3483 million).

In Ontario, at least six partner agencies in London, Hamilton, Kitchener-Walterloo, Ottawa, Toronto and Windsor-Essex will receive more than $5.1 million to assist up to 2,300 refugees with temporary accommodations, food and incidentals, orientation sessions and counselling and referral services. This is in addition to more than $138 million settlement funding that has been provided to these six areas directly (under the $920 million Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement (COIA) over five years) to design and deliver basic settlement support services to all newcomers including refugees.

In Alberta, one CIC partner agency in Edmonton will receive over $790,000 to assist up to 378 refugees with temporary accommodation, finding a permanent home, help with such items as banking and managing a household, and other everyday tasks, as well as referrals to federal and provincial programs. This is in addition to more than $47 million settlement funding that is being provided to the Province directly for 2008-09 to design and deliver basic settlement support services to all newcomers including refugees.

In British Columbia, one CIC partner agency in Vancouver will receive more than $1.3 million to assist up to 800 refugees. This is in addition to $109 million settlement funding that is being provided to the Province directly for 2008-09 to design and deliver settlement support services to all newcomers including refugees.

In Saskatchewan, two CIC partner agencies in Saskatoon will receive over $325,000 to assist up to 200 refugees. This is in addition to $5.5 million settlement funding that is being provided to the Province directly for 2008-09 to design and deliver settlement support services to all newcomers including refugees.

Through their generous support for those who are in legitimate need of protection, the Canadian government and the people have shown not only their humanitarian concern but also a recognition of the enormous contributions that refugees can make to their new communities. Canadians can be proud of helping so many to rebuild their lives in safety.