Canada should be doing more for those fleeing violence and persecution: Rempel

Ottawa, ON – The Honourable Michelle Rempel, Shadow Minister for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, today marked World Refugee Day. “We are truly blessed to live in an open and welcoming country where Canadians willingly open their doors to the world’s most vulnerable,” said Rempel. “We know that under Justin Trudeau, the ratio of LGBT refugees has significantly decreased. For example, the initiative to resettle Iranian LGBT individuals has almost completely stopped. This is unacceptable,” said Rempel. “The Trudeau government used to allow us to resettle thousands of Iranian LGBT refugees, but in recent years, we have been given almost no spots,” said Arsham Parsi, Executive Director of Iranian Railroad for 4ueer Refugees. “LGBT people in Iran are some of the most vulnerable people in the world. That is why the Rainbow Refugee Assistance Pilot program should be fully funded.”“Canada can, and should be doing more to be a voice for the protection of human rights and the world’s most vulnerable. That is why an Andrew Scheer government will make the Rainbow Refugee Assistance Pilot a regular program that is a fully promoted, multi-year program that receives regular funding,” said Rempel.“Canada’s Conservatives will continue to be a voice for the protection of human rights and the world’s most vulnerable,” concluded Rempel.