Unique Canadian project finds homes for stateless Tibetan refugees

One thousand displaced Tibetan refugees emigrating to Canada are being helped to find homes and jobs via a unique immigration agreement with the government.

After the invasion of Tibet by the Chinese over 60 years ago, many Tibetans fled across the Himalayas to India to find refuge. Children who were born during the diaspora or after arrival in India remained stateless unless they managed to achieve Indian citizenship.

The introduction of a unique scheme, arranged with the agreement of the Canadian government, has meant that one thousand displaced Tibetans can resettle in Canada between now and early in 2016. The first group arrived last Saturday and are being helped to settle by the Project Tibet Society.

The society’s director, Mina Forjee, explained that the group had been set up to facilitate emigration to Canada for displaced Tibetan refugees living in northern India. The initial problem, she said, was that, to be accepted into Canada as a refugee, there must be demonstrable fear of persecution.

The displaced Tibetans, she explained, had spent all their lives away from their homeland and persecution by the Chinese, but had no citizenship. The scheme was first created by former immigration minister Jason Kenney, who used a little-known loophole in the rules to create a temporary policy which allowed private sponsors to help the Tibetans.

Whilst the necessary paperwork and legalities were being sorted, the Project Tibet Society raised donations, encouraged sponsors and found suitable housing as well as organising help and support for the newcomers’ first year in their new, much colder, country. All will be able to become Canadian citizens, living in and belonging to their very own country for the first time in their lives.