Since 2009, over 18,000 Iraqi refugees have resettled in Canada, many of them religious minorities who faced persecution and death if they remained, Alexander said at a Aug. 19 citizenship swearing-in ceremony for new Canadians.

Canada’s refugee policy “now is focussed in many ways on the Middle East,” the Minister said.

Alexander also promised refugee process-ing times at Canada’s Turkish embassy in Ankara would come down from its current 23 months.

“Canada is very proud to remain at the forefront of humanitarian efforts to respond — (we’re) one of the largest donors — to meet the needs of those on the move, to meet the needs of those facing persecution in their millions on the ground in Syria and Iraq,” he said. “We’re also very proud to be at the forefront of reset-tlement efforts.”