Why does Canada resettle refugees?

Canada resettles refugees to save lives and to provide stability to those fleeing persecution with no hope of relief.

Through its refugee protection system, Canada offers a safe haven to:

• people with a well-founded fear of persecution, and
• people who are outside of their country and cannot return because of that fear of persecution.

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) leads and coordinates international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its main purpose is to protect the rights and well-being of refugees.

As part of its activities, the UNHCR refers refugees to Canada when resettlement is the best solution.

Learn more about the refugee system in Canada and our tradition of humanitarian action