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Running on EmptyCanada and the Indochinese Refugees, 1975-1980 |
eBook Available
A powerful history of how Canada rescued 70,000 Indochinese refugees between 1975 and 1980.
The fall of Saigon in April 1975 resulted in the largest and most ambitious refugee resettlement effort in Canada’s history. Running on Empty presents the challenges and successes of this bold refugee resettlement program. It traces the actions of a few dozen men and women who travelled to seventy remote refugee camps, worked long days in humid conditions, subsisted on dried noodles and green tea, and sometimes slept on their worktables while rats scurried around them - all in order to resettle thousands of people displaced by war and oppression.
After initially accepting 7,000 refugees from camps in Guam, Hong Kong, and military bases in the US in 1975, Canada passed the 1976 Immigration Act to establish new refugee procedures and introduce private refugee sponsorship. In July of 1979, the federal government under Prime Minister Joe Clark announced that Canada would accept an unprecedented 50,000 refugees - later increased to 60,000 - more than half of whom would be sponsored by ordinary Canadians. Running on Empty presents gripping first-hand accounts of the government officials tasked with selecting refugees from eight different countries, receiving and matching them with sponsors, and helping churches, civic organizations, and groups of neighbours to receive and integrate the newcomers in cities, towns, and rural communities across Canada.
Timely and inspiring, Running on Empty offers essential lessons for governments, organizations, and individuals trying to come to grips with refugee crises in the twenty-first century.
After initially accepting 7,000 refugees from camps in Guam, Hong Kong, and military bases in the US in 1975, Canada passed the 1976 Immigration Act to establish new refugee procedures and introduce private refugee sponsorship. In July of 1979, the federal government under Prime Minister Joe Clark announced that Canada would accept an unprecedented 50,000 refugees - later increased to 60,000 - more than half of whom would be sponsored by ordinary Canadians. Running on Empty presents gripping first-hand accounts of the government officials tasked with selecting refugees from eight different countries, receiving and matching them with sponsors, and helping churches, civic organizations, and groups of neighbours to receive and integrate the newcomers in cities, towns, and rural communities across Canada.
Timely and inspiring, Running on Empty offers essential lessons for governments, organizations, and individuals trying to come to grips with refugee crises in the twenty-first century.
Details
Part of the McGill-Queen's Studies in Ethnic History Series (number 2.41 in series)
612 Pages, 6 x 9
28 photos, 4 maps, 6 tables
ISBN 9780773548817
April 2017
Formats: Cloth, Paperback, eBook
“Running on Empty is a compelling narrative about how Canada was able to resettle Vietnamese, Laotian, Cambodian, and Hmong refugees during a time of international crisis. A valuable addition to Canadian immigration history.” Vinh Nguyen, Renison University College at University of Waterloo
“This insider’s account of an historic movement of refugees makes for an engaging read. The real gems are the accounts from officials on the ground.” Stephanie Bangarth, King’s College at University of Western Ontario
“Molloy et al., document in detail the performance of Canadian government officials responsible for developing the policy framework as well as the administrative tools for locating Indochinese refugees ... [this] book is captivating, surprising for a volume on the workings of a bureaucracy. It is the best and most accurate record of what took place and will serve as a critical historical source book.” Howard Adelman, Literary Review of Canada
“Running on Empty provides critical insights into how the resettlement of thousands of Indochinese refugees to Canada occurred and helpfully gestures toward the need for scholarship that privileges the perspectives and experiences of the refugees themselves.” Canadian Journal of History
“This insider’s account of an historic movement of refugees makes for an engaging read. The real gems are the accounts from officials on the ground.” Stephanie Bangarth, King’s College at University of Western Ontario
“Molloy et al., document in detail the performance of Canadian government officials responsible for developing the policy framework as well as the administrative tools for locating Indochinese refugees ... [this] book is captivating, surprising for a volume on the workings of a bureaucracy. It is the best and most accurate record of what took place and will serve as a critical historical source book.” Howard Adelman, Literary Review of Canada
“Running on Empty provides critical insights into how the resettlement of thousands of Indochinese refugees to Canada occurred and helpfully gestures toward the need for scholarship that privileges the perspectives and experiences of the refugees themselves.” Canadian Journal of History
Michael J. Molloy is an honorary senior fellow at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa, and was senior coordinator of the Indochinese Refugee Task Force from 1979 to 1980.
Peter Duschinsky is a retired immigration foreign service officer and Immigration Canada’s former director of international liaison.
Kurt F. Jensen is a retired foreign service officer and adjunct professor in the Department of Political Science at Carleton University.
Robert J. Shalka, a retired immigration foreign service officer was one of two officers sent to Thailand to establish a new program for refugees from Thailand and Laos.
Peter Duschinsky is a retired immigration foreign service officer and Immigration Canada’s former director of international liaison.
Kurt F. Jensen is a retired foreign service officer and adjunct professor in the Department of Political Science at Carleton University.
Robert J. Shalka, a retired immigration foreign service officer was one of two officers sent to Thailand to establish a new program for refugees from Thailand and Laos.
CONTENTS
Foreword by Ronald Atkey • xi
Preface and Acknowledgments • xiii
Abbreviations and Terminology • xix
Maps • xxv
Illustrations following pages 188 and 386
Introduction • 3
PART 1
A HISTORY OF CANADA'S INVOLVEMENT WITH THE
INDOCHINESE REFUGEES, 1975-1980
1 The Historical Evolution of Canada’s Refugee Policy between
World War II and the Immigration Act, 1976 • 17
2 The Fall of Saigon and Canada’s Response • 22
3 The First Wave, 1975-1977 • 43
4 The Immigration Act, 1976: New Provisions for Refugees • 61
5 Ramping Up for Crisis, 1978 • 82
6 Canada Engages: Critical Decisions, 1978-1979 • 104
7 Innovation on the Run • 122
8 Mr Atkey’s Fifty Thousand • 138
9 To Match or Not to Match: It’s All about the Numbers • 153
10 Mr Axworthy Sees It Through • 167
PART II
RESETTLEMENT OPERATIONS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
11 Singapore: The Early Years • 189
12 The Canadian Refugee Program in Singapore, 1975-1980 • 208
13 Singapore: Visas, Mounties, and Medicals 230
14 Singapore: One Man’s Refugee Movement • 254
15 Bangkok, 1978-1979: Operational Beginnings • 276
16 Bangkok, 1979-1980: Crises and Growth • 293
17 Bangkok: Working in the Camps • 309
18 Hong Kong, Macau, Manila • 328
19 Quebec Operations in Southeast Asia • 347
20 Rescue at Sea • 369
PART III
WELCOMING THE REFUGEES
21 Receiving the Refugees: The Staging Areas • 389
22 Community Coordination • 407
23 The Refugee Liaison Officers • 427
24 Adapting to Canada: The Long Struggle • 442
Conclusion • 449
Chronology • 461
Notes • 479
Contributors • 545
Index • 561
Foreword by Ronald Atkey • xi
Preface and Acknowledgments • xiii
Abbreviations and Terminology • xix
Maps • xxv
Illustrations following pages 188 and 386
Introduction • 3
PART 1
A HISTORY OF CANADA'S INVOLVEMENT WITH THE
INDOCHINESE REFUGEES, 1975-1980
1 The Historical Evolution of Canada’s Refugee Policy between
World War II and the Immigration Act, 1976 • 17
2 The Fall of Saigon and Canada’s Response • 22
3 The First Wave, 1975-1977 • 43
4 The Immigration Act, 1976: New Provisions for Refugees • 61
5 Ramping Up for Crisis, 1978 • 82
6 Canada Engages: Critical Decisions, 1978-1979 • 104
7 Innovation on the Run • 122
8 Mr Atkey’s Fifty Thousand • 138
9 To Match or Not to Match: It’s All about the Numbers • 153
10 Mr Axworthy Sees It Through • 167
PART II
RESETTLEMENT OPERATIONS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
11 Singapore: The Early Years • 189
12 The Canadian Refugee Program in Singapore, 1975-1980 • 208
13 Singapore: Visas, Mounties, and Medicals 230
14 Singapore: One Man’s Refugee Movement • 254
15 Bangkok, 1978-1979: Operational Beginnings • 276
16 Bangkok, 1979-1980: Crises and Growth • 293
17 Bangkok: Working in the Camps • 309
18 Hong Kong, Macau, Manila • 328
19 Quebec Operations in Southeast Asia • 347
20 Rescue at Sea • 369
PART III
WELCOMING THE REFUGEES
21 Receiving the Refugees: The Staging Areas • 389
22 Community Coordination • 407
23 The Refugee Liaison Officers • 427
24 Adapting to Canada: The Long Struggle • 442
Conclusion • 449
Chronology • 461
Notes • 479
Contributors • 545
Index • 561
