Canadian Immigration News

Canada to Accept More Bhutanese Refugees

June 21, 2012, Canada plans to resettle 500 more Bhutanese refugees, according to the latest announcement from Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism.

In May 2007, Canada promised to accept up to 5,000 Bhutanese refugees who had been living in Canada for nearly two decades in refugee camps. The country now commits to resettle 500 more Bhutanese refugees who have family connections in Canada, Mr. Jason Kenney announced.

The plan is a part of Canada's commitment to working with the international community to find long-term solutions for Bhutanese refugees who have been living in several United Nations-run refugee camps in eastern Nepal since the early 1990s.

Nearly 4,500 of the 5000 have already arrived in Canada as of October 2011.The remainder, plus the additional 500, are expected to arrive during 2012.

"We are proud of the role Canada has played in the international effort to resolve this situation," indicated Minister Kenney. "Canada has long been a place of refuge for people around the world and continues to have one of the most generous immigration and refugee systems in the world. We welcome one out of every 10 of all resettled refugees globally, more than any other industrialized country in the world."

Canada continues to develop it's asylum system to ensure the right Canadian immigrants in need of protection get it faster while refugees who are not qualified are removed more quickly. In addition, Canada intends to expand its refugee program for Iraqi applications due to the ongoing violence and instability in Syria.

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