HOF026: Mike Molloy

Michael James Molloy, co-author of Running on Empty: Canada and the Indochinese Refugee Movement 1975-80, has 40 years of experience in international and refugee affairs.

In 1976, as Director of Refugee Policy, he was responsible for designing the refugee provisions of the 1976 Immigration Act including the sponsorship program and the Indochinese designated class that simplified the selection process for the Indochinese refugees.

From 1976 to 1978, he developed refugee regulations, procedures and programs for the 1976 Immigration Act, including: the refugee selection criteria, the first “designated class” regulations, the first refugee sponsorship program, the student refugee program with World University Service of Canada (WUSC), as well as programs, manuals, forms and promotional materials.

Mike provided operational policy guidance for refugee operations in Chile, Central America, Europe, and South East Asia. He oversaw and reviewed decisions of the Interdepartmental Committee on Refugee Status. He chaired the panel of the Refugee Status Advisory Committee. He also represented Immigration Canada at the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) executive committee and organized a resolution that led to the first UNHCR handbook on refugee status determination.

In 1979 and 1980 he coordinated refugee selection and processing activities in Asia, the operation of reception centres in Edmonton and Montreal and the processing of refugees and sponsors at local offices. He also directed the development of processes for matching refugees with sponsors. In sum he played a key role in the evolution of refugee policy and administration in Canada during the period from 1976 to 1980.