At a press conference in Ottawa this afternoon, the federal government unveiled its plan on how Canada will resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees.
Vancouver Sun reporter Peter O’Neil is covering the story in Ottawa.
The federal government will resettle only about 10,000 Syrian refugees by the end of the year, or less than half the 25,000 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised during the election campaign. The remaining 15,000 will be resettled before Feb. 28.
John McCallum, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, says the refugees will be making a “major contribution to our country.”
McCallum said there is a “short-term cost” to accepting refugees “but there is a long-term gain.”
McCallum says Canada will take in the “most vulnerable” of refugees, “whatever their religion might be.”
McCallum was asked if Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was “rash” in his election promise to take in 25,000 refugees by Dec. 31.
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan says military planners are assisting with the effort, carrying out screening (both medical and security) along with providing transport and lodging.
Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale says there will be a security check completed on all approved refugees before they leave for Canada.
Earlier this month, B.C. Premier Christy Clark opined that Vancouver, with its high cost of living, might not be best place for refugees to land.
“Not all of the (refugees) would be best settled in the City of Vancouver, where housing is really expensive, where jobs may not be as plentiful,” she said.
McCallum said the federal government is pushing for equal distribution.
Here is some B.C. reaction to Ottawa’s refugee plan:
Meanwhile, the Syrian Canadian Council of B.C. is using Facebook to recruit donors and volunteers to assist the “welcoming process” of all Syrians refugees’ families. The SCC has set up an online form for those willing to assist the refugees “in mentoring, emotional support, orientation, accommodation or any other possible help.”
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You can find the Syrian Canadian Council’s welcome to B.C. volunteers application HERE.
Filed under: Now, STAFF Tagged: Canada, Internet, Ottawa, Science and Technology, Social Software and Tagging, technology Image may be NSFW.
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