Ottawa, November 24, 2011 — A new YouTube video highlighting how Canada’s refugee resettlement program can change a family’s life was launched today by Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney.
“Canada resettles refugees to save lives and to provide stability to those fleeing persecution who have no hope of relief elsewhere,” said Minister Kenney.
“Running for your life as members of your family are killed around you, thankfully, is not an experience familiar to most Canadians. Unfortunately, it is something all too familiar for refugees around the world.”
Okach is one of these refugees. He fled for his life and ended up in Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya. He lived there for years before he and his wife and young daughter were selected to come to Canada. The family arrived in Regina last November. His story is featured in the video entitled “A Brighter Future.”
“I will achieve something in the future here. [My children] will have freedom to learn, freedom to talk, freedom to share what they have,”
says Okach’s wife Ajulu of their new life in Canada.
Okach and Ajulu’s story is just one of many. Canada has helped more than one million refugees since World War II. And Canada is continuing its humanitarian tradition by doing more to help. As part of the measures to reform Canada’s refugee protection system, the Government of Canada is increasing the total number of refugees resettled annually by 20 percent. This means that up to 500 more government-assisted refugees and 2,000 privately sponsored refugees will find protection in Canada each year.
Video available at: www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/multimedia/video/nairobi/nairobi.asp.
Photo of Minister Kenney available at: www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/photos/high-res/index.asp.
For further information (media only), please contact:
Candice Malcolm
Minister's Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
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.
