The Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Amy Pope, concluded a two-day visit to Ottawa today, underscoring Canada's crucial role as a steadfast partner in supporting regular pathways, including for refugees, responding to humanitarian crises worldwide, and helping ensure that people on the move have access to life-saving assistance.
Canada is a founding member of IOM since the organization's 1951 beginning, and it continues to play a defining role in international efforts to strengthen systems so that when people move, they can do so safely. IOM's collaboration with Canada spans across several key areas, including refugee resettlement, the integration of displaced people and returnees, migration governance, and evidence-based humanitarian response.
"Canada consistently demonstrates what principled global leadership looks like," said DG Pope. "By partnering with IOM, Canada shows how effective migration governance builds public trust, drives economic growth, protects lives, and supports communities. IOM deeply values this partnership and the shared commitment to ensuring that when people move, they can do so safely and with dignity."
During the visit, DG Pope met with the Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada; Mr Ted Gullivan, Deputy Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada; and the Honourable Randeep Sarai, Secretary of State for International Development.
The meetings focused on deepening cooperation on regular pathways, global humanitarian response, migration governance, and advancing peace and security.
IOM will continue to work closely with the Government of Canada, as well as leading Canadian private sector partners, to strengthen global solutions to displacement, supporting communities through stabilization efforts, livelihood integration, and strengthened migration governance, while creating greater opportunities for people to work and thrive.
