For 2 decades, Canadians have worked side by side with Afghan nationals to improve security, democracy and human rights in Afghanistan. Now Canada is welcoming people who face risks as a result of this vitally important work.
“Today marks the 75th anniversary of the Canadian Citizenship Act, a major moment in Canada’s history and a milestone on our journey to full independence and nationhood. Before the Act, the people of this country were British subjects – we have forever since been Canadian citizens.”
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Sean Fraser announces the Permanent Atlantic Immigration Program to attract workers and drive economic growth
With the significant exception of Indigenous people, all Canadians originally come from somewhere else. The story of immigration fills many chapters in the history of Canada—including the most recent one. To support Canada’s post-pandemic recovery and chart a more prosperous future, the Government of Canada set a target of welcoming 401,000 new permanent residents in 2021, as part of the 2021–2023 Immigration Levels Plan.
Virtual event on the Protection and Empowerment of Displaced Women and Girls from Central America and Mexico
The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Honourable Harjit Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister Responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, today issued the following statement:
Immigration is vital to the future of communities across the country, and nowhere more so than Atlantic Canada. Over the past few years, the Atlantic Immigration Pilot has brought and retained thousands of newcomers to the region. These new Canadians have helped communities thrive, businesses prosper and the region’s population grow.
Canadians everywhere have been watching with worry as the people of British Columbia keep facing extreme climatic events like catastrophic floods and landslides. While the loss of human lives is the most concerning, we’ve also come to realize that people directly affected may need to replace vital lost or destroyed documents, including travel, citizenship and immigration documents.
Canada has a long, proud tradition of standing up for human rights at home and abroad. On this International Human Rights Day, we join our friends and allies around the world in reaffirming and celebrating the importance of human rights, while recommitting ourselves to building a world where they are respected by all.
As a founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which is a major contributor to international peace and security, Canada is taking a lead role in ensuring that NATO is able to resettle all its Afghan staff who were evacuated. As part of the commitment to welcome Afghan refugees, the government is resettling up to 472 NATO-identified locally engaged staff and their family members.