The World Refugee Year is a project under United Nations auspices which assigns the highest priority to final clearance of the refugee camps which have existed in some Western European countries since the end of the Second World War. The population of these camps has now largely been reduced to "hard core cases," that is, people who are inadmissible to countries of immigration because they do not meet normal standards. The closing of these camps is to be brought near completion through a special international programme lasting one year under which governments and private individuals are being asked to make contributions over and above their normal contributions to various international refugee projects. These special contributions are generally in the form of funds or the admission by countries of immigration of a number of "hard core cases" for permanent settlement.

Canadian support for World Refugee Year was announced by the Prime Minister on June 28 and by the Secretary of State for External Affairs in the House of Commons on June 22 and July 9. So far no decision has been taken on the exact scope of the special Canadian contribution, although the basis for interdepartmental discussion has been a scheme under which perhaps 100 tuberculous refugees with their dependents would be admitted to Canada. The tuberculous cases would be treated in provincial sanatoria, many of which have ample empty bed-space, and the provincial governments have been asked to indicate whether they would be prepared to bear part of the cost of the scheme. If the Federal Government were to subsidize the total cost of treatment, it is estimated that a maximum amount of $750,000 for the first year would be required. This would include cost of hospitalization, maintenance of any dependants, and transportation to and within Canada. It is expected that the annual cost of the plan will be substantially reduced after the initial year. Indications of interest or support have been received from six provincial governments so far. This evidence suggests that the Federal Government may have to bear only a fraction of the hospitalization costs. In addition, it is possible that the privately sponsored Canadian Committee for World Refugee Year may contribute to this project if their national appeal for funds is successful. It should be borne in mind, however, that whatever fraction of the $750,000 the Canadian Government may be called upon to pay, this special contribution would be in addition to regular normal contributions to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration, and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, which in recent years have totalled between $750,000 and $1,000,000.

A decision in principle on the general scope of the special Canadian contribution is now sought because other countries have either announced their special contributions or will be likely to announce them at the session of the United Nations General Assembly which begins next week. A scheme for admitting 100 tuberculous refugees would be an appropriate under-taking for Canada, since it would be proportionate to what other countries are doing. Other national contributions announced so far include: New Zealand has accepted 42 refugees who are described as difficult to re-settle cases, Australia has agreed to take 50 "hard-core" families which could total up to 150 persons, the United Kingdom has made a commitment to accept 200 normally unacceptable refugees, of whom 50 may be tuberculous cases. Belgium has undertaken final responsibility for the resettlement of 3000 refugees (about 12 per cent of the total remaining in European camps) either in Belgium or in the country of first asylum or elsewhere, depending on available opportunities and the refugees' own preference. Sweden, which has already accepted some 600 tuberculous, blind or mentally ill cases, has announced a plan to admit about 200 refugees who would be primarily disabled or diseased persons along with the members of their immediate families. Many of these governments have also announced substantial special grants in cash to the World Refugee Year international pro-gramme, in addition to their domestic programmes for the rehabilitation of refugees.

Recommendation

That the Secretary of State for External Affairs be authorized to announce in the opening debate at the forthcoming session of the United Nations General Assembly that Canada's special contribution to the World Refugee Year will be the admission of about 100 tuberculous refugees along with their dependants, the tuberculous patients to be treated at the public expense; the details of the plan to be worked out by the Secretary of State for External Affairs in consultation with the Ministers of Citizenship and Immigration, National Health and Welfare, and Finance and with the provincial governments, on the understanding that the provincial governments and the Canadian Committee for World Refugee Year be encouraged to contribute as much of the total cost as possible, and that the total cost of the scheme to the Federal Government during the first year shall not in any event exceed $600,000.⁷⁵

H.C. GREEN

⁷⁵Approuvé par le Cabinet le 11 septembre 1959./Approved by Cabinet on September 11, 1959.