The history of humanity is a history of movement. 

Today, movements of people from one place to another are subject to severe political and social constraints.

Our guest this episode has spent a good portion of his life creating supports for people who are fleeing human rights or environmental disasters.  

Dr. Lloyd Axworthy joins us to share what he and others at the World Refugee & Migration Council see as the great need for reform in our treatment of refugees in Canada and around the world.  We discuss how Canada’s generally positive political and social approach has helped our country take the lead in creating new and innovative ways to support refugees. 

We also discuss how the global crisis of displaced people is putting increasing pressure on governments and international institutions to respond more effectively in the coming years.

About our guest:

The Honourable Lloyd Axworthy is the chair of the World Refugee & Migration Council and one of Canada’s leading voices on global migration and refugee protection. After a 27-year political career, where he served as Canada’s minister of Foreign Affairs and minister of Employment and Immigration, among other postings, Mr. Axworthy has continued to work extensively on human security, refugee protection and human rights in Canada and abroad. He was presented with the Pearson Peace Medal by the Governor General of Canada in May 2017 and is a Companion of the Order of Canada. In his term as president and vice-chancellor of the University of Winnipeg, Mr. Axworthy initiated innovative programs for migrant and aboriginal youth communities, and has also done a great deal of work on refugee reform as a Richard von Weizsäcker fellow at Germany’s Robert Bosch Academy.

Additional Links:

Report: A Renewed Call to Action - World Refugee & Migration Council https://wrmcouncil.org/publications/renewed-call-to-action/

World Refugee & Migration Council (WRMC) - wrmcouncil.org

WRMC Resources on Repurposing Assets for the Forcibly Displaced - wrmcouncil.org/FARA

North and Central American Task Force on Migration - wrmcouncil.org/TaskForce