June 20 marks World Refugee Day, when the world acknowledges and honors the strength and the courage of the millions of people across the globe who were forced to flee their country.

Every year, Canada celebrates the success of refugees who found a haven in the country and brought cultural diversity. Since the last four years, Canada has been the top resettlement country in the world, welcoming over 47,500 refugees from over 80 countries in 2022. To date, the country has resettled more than 88,000 Syrian refugees and over 33,000 Afghans fleeing persecution from the Taliban.  

The Canadian Government recognizes that many refugees come with valuable skills and experience that should not go untapped just because they become displaced. Canada’s Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) helps skilled refugees immigrate to Canada as economic immigrants. Through EMPP, Canada seeks to welcome up to 2,000 qualified refugees and displaced persons per year to fill labour shortages across the country. 

On June 20, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said, “Today, on World Refugee Day, the global community honours the strength and courage of millions of refugees, while showing empathy and understanding for their plight. In Canada, we have a proud history of resettling the world’s most vulnerable people, and refugees play an essential role in building and strengthening our communities.”

Source: Canada.ca