In a speech marking World Refugee Day on June 20, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney saluted Canada’s tradition of “providing refuge to those in need of protection from tyranny, violent oppression, and persecution.”
Speaking at an event in Ottawa, Kenney noted that Canada’s history of providing a safe haven for refugees dates back to the 1700s when 3,000 black loyalists fled the oppression of the American Revolution.
In the 1800s, Canada accepted Polish refugees escaping Russian oppression and Jews fleeing Czarist pogroms. Toward the end of the 19th century, the first major migration of Ukrainians began with the arrival of 170,000 fleeing oppression in areas under Austro-Hungarian rule.
Kenney said that in 1956 and 1968 respectively, Canada welcomed thousands of Hungarian and Czech refugees fleeing Soviet tyranny; in the 70s provided refuge to Chinese who fled the Cultural Revolution and to Tibetans who fled after the Chinese occupation of their homeland; and accepted more than 60,000 Vietnamese after the Vietnam War.
In more recent times, Canada has opened its doors to more than 2,300 Bhutanese refugees, with plans to resettle up to 5,000 Bhutanese from Nepal over the next few years. In addition, the resettlement of over 3,900 Karen from Thailand has almost been completed, Kenney said.
“Last year alone, we resettled more than 12,000 refugees from abroad, and another 12,300 people were granted protection through the Asylum Program.” 
In the future, as part of reforms to the refugee protection system, the government will increase the total number of refugees each year by 20 percent, he said.
“This means that up to 500 more government-assisted refugees and 2,000 more privately sponsored refugees will find refuge in Canada.”
Kenney took the opportunity to announce the launch of a new exhibit that will showcase the stories of refugees and help raise awareness about Canada’s refugee program.
The exhibit will travel across Canada over the summer, and will be displayed at libraries and UNESCO sites in various communities, along with a new video featuring the challenges facing those in a refugee camp in Nairobi while they wait to be sponsored or resettled.
“It is our hope that this exhibit and video will help increase awareness and about the plight of refugees, and that they will educate Canadians about why our refugee program is so important,” Kenney said.
Speaking at an event in Ottawa, Kenney noted that Canada’s history of providing a safe haven for refugees dates back to the 1700s when 3,000 black loyalists fled the oppression of the American Revolution.
In the 1800s, Canada accepted Polish refugees escaping Russian oppression and Jews fleeing Czarist pogroms. Toward the end of the 19th century, the first major migration of Ukrainians began with the arrival of 170,000 fleeing oppression in areas under Austro-Hungarian rule.
Kenney said that in 1956 and 1968 respectively, Canada welcomed thousands of Hungarian and Czech refugees fleeing Soviet tyranny; in the 70s provided refuge to Chinese who fled the Cultural Revolution and to Tibetans who fled after the Chinese occupation of their homeland; and accepted more than 60,000 Vietnamese after the Vietnam War.
In more recent times, Canada has opened its doors to more than 2,300 Bhutanese refugees, with plans to resettle up to 5,000 Bhutanese from Nepal over the next few years. In addition, the resettlement of over 3,900 Karen from Thailand has almost been completed, Kenney said.
“Last year alone, we resettled more than 12,000 refugees from abroad, and another 12,300 people were granted protection through the Asylum Program.”
“This means that up to 500 more government-assisted refugees and 2,000 more privately sponsored refugees will find refuge in Canada.”
Kenney took the opportunity to announce the launch of a new exhibit that will showcase the stories of refugees and help raise awareness about Canada’s refugee program.
The exhibit will travel across Canada over the summer, and will be displayed at libraries and UNESCO sites in various communities, along with a new video featuring the challenges facing those in a refugee camp in Nairobi while they wait to be sponsored or resettled.
“It is our hope that this exhibit and video will help increase awareness and about the plight of refugees, and that they will educate Canadians about why our refugee program is so important,” Kenney said.
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