Canada to resettle 25000 Syrian refugees by end of February

That’s where premiers committed their support to a federal plan to bring in 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end of 2015, a number that, as of November 24, has now been shaved to 10,000 in 2015, with 10,000 more by the end of February 2016.

Pressed on the awkward fact that the plan doesn’t match up with Liberals had previously promised, McCallum again tried to broaden the frame of reference, from mere politicians and public servants, to the popular will. “Canadians want us to do it right-if it takes a little longer to do it right, take that time”, he said.

“We remain prepared to provide temporary lodging for up to 6,000 Syrian refugees at military bases in Ontario and Quebec and more if necessary”, he says.

McCallum said that Trudeau had made a commitment to accept 25,000 Syrian refugees with government assistance but that the number of refugees who may be taken in with private sponsorship is unlimited.

The whole plan will cost up to $678 million over six years, and will see the influx of Syrians heading to 36 communities across the country.

Women, children and families are to get priority ahead of single men, unless they identify as LGBT or are part of a family unit.

Before boarding chartered flights to Toronto or Montreal, the refugees would undergo security checks, which include the verification of documents, iris scans, fingerprinting and photographing, among other measures.

The executive director of Ottawa’s Catholic Centre for Immigrants, which has traditionally been the receiver of government-assisted refugees in Ottawa, said he didn’t hear everything he wanted to hear on Tuesday but he’s not getting impatient. The UNHCR has communicated with refugees in camps in Lebanon and Jordan through text message and have asked refugees if they are interested in coming to Canada.

That said, the Syrian refugee situation is being called a “crisis” for a reason, and crises don’t always allow for the same measured response Canadians might otherwise expect.

Islamophobia is disappointing, but we can not allow it to keep refugees from making a new home in Canada.

“Refugees arriving in Canada should be welcomed with open arms and the full confidence of all Canadians”.

Amira Elghawaby, with the National Council of Canadian Muslims, said that Canada has an “undercurrent” of Islamophobia which surfaces in the wake of events like those in Paris. Another 10,000 or more are expected to arrive later next year.

The Canadian government has launched a website devoted to Syrian refugees in Canada.

His decision was followed by more than half the country’s governors, including one Democrat, saying they wouldn’t accept Syrian refugees and 37 House Democrats helping pass the Republican-sponsored bill calling for tighter screening.

Despite that, every province in Canada has agreed to take in refugees and charity organizations have been inundated with offers from private citizens eager to welcome and help resettle refugees. Canada has also pledged to take refugees of all faiths.

“So they will have some people in their own community as they go to this new place”, McCallum explained.