NOTE TO EDITORS:

Minister to attend Canadian Council for Refugees conference

Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Tom Lush will bring greetings at the opening session for the Canadian Council of Refugees Conference tonight at 7:00 p.m. The conference, which is being held in Newfoundland and Labrador for the first time, takes place at the Fairmont Newfoundland Hotel from May 17 - 19. It is expected that between 200 to 300 delegates will attend. Federal Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Denis Coderre, will also speak at the event.

The Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR) was founded in 1977 as an umbrella organization to bring together groups working for the protection of refugees, and the integration of refugees and immigrants into Canadian society. CCR consultations are held twice a year and bring together 300 or more people from across Canada and beyond. Participants include refugees, immigrants, representatives of NGOs, government, UNHCR, academics and international guests.

Media contact: Tansy Mundon, Intergovernmental Affairs, (709) 729-1341.

2002 05 17                            3:15 p.m.