Ron Atkey and Canada

Syrians Ottawa: If Canada can do another 25,000 — that would make a significant contribution in line with Canada contribution with the Vietnamese boat people in 1979 to 1980, according to Toronto Star. It will demonstrate to the Americans that they have to do more. Ron Atkey believes the 25,000 Syrians Ottawa is promising to re-settle initially is a noble objective but he wants Canada to up the ante. We’ll shame them into it, similarly the Australians, says Atkey, who was immigration minister in the Joe Clark government in 1979 when 50,000 Vietnamese refugees were granted asylum in Canada. Canada admitted 60,000 Vietnamese refugees in 1979 and 1980. By the end of 1980, that number had risen to 60,000. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.