Brampton, Ontario

Thank you for that kind introduction, and for this generous invitation to join you here tonight.

I bring you greetings from the Government of Canada, our Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, and the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, the Honourable Diane Finley.

Minister Finley regrets that she couldn’t be here, and has asked me to pass along her congratulations and best wishes for a successful gala.

I would like to acknowledge the Vietnamese Canadian Federation, and in particular the Vietnamese communities across Canada, whose hard work over the years has made tonight’s gala possible.

Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve come to the end of a long chapter in world history that no one will ever forget.

I’m talking, of course, about the fall of Saigon in 1975, and the harrowing reality of half a million people fleeing Vietnam—seeking shelter in countries throughout the Far East.

In Canada we opened our hearts and our country to more than 140,000 refugees between 1979 and 1995—while others remained without legal status in the Philippines.

In May of this year, Minister Finley announced that the government will facilitate the immigration of the Vietnamese who remained in the Philippines, on humanitarian and compassionate grounds.

We have expanded the family class for this community to allow adult children and siblings to be sponsored by relatives in Canada.

And we will continue to work with the Vietnamese Canadian Federation to identify those still living in the Philippines without status who need our help.

Tonight’s fundraising gala, I hope, will inspire generosity in our fellow Canadians—to help these remaining Vietnamese build new lives for themselves and their families in this great country.

The Government of Canada will make every effort to help facilitate their immigration to Canada.

Our significant commitment to settlement funding is helping immigrants succeed once they get here.

We have committed $1.3 billion over five years to help immigrants integrate into our communities, improve their language skills, and find work.

For decades, Canada has welcomed immigrants—from Europe and from around the world. Here people have found freedom, opportunity and acceptance.

This is echoed in the sentiments of Prime Minister Harper who said earlier this year, and I quote:

“The characteristic that most defines Canadians is welcoming…. East and West, North and South, French and English, immigrant and Native-born, we are all proud champions of these founding values—of the Canadian way.”

I would like to thank the Vietnamese community in Canada tonight for their support on behalf of the Vietnamese living in the Philippines.

I am confident that our relationship will not only grow as a result of today’s announcement but will also be strengthened when we practice the kind of friendship that benefits us all.

On behalf of the Government of Canada and Minister Finley, I wish you great success in your fundraising efforts.

Thank you.