Canada to take in 25,000 Syrian refugees

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addresses his first caucus at Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada, Nov. 5, 2015. (Xinhua/Chris Roussakis)

Canada will soon discuss with Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey taking 25,000 Syrian refugees off their hands and resettling them, as per the new prime minister’s promise. After Canada’s new prime minister vowed to make good on campaign promises to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees by the beginning of next year and bring home fighter jets battling the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria; senior cabinet ministers and top officials from defense, security and intelligence agencies met on Parliament Hill Tuesday 10th November to work out an “ambitious” plan for final approval by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his full cabinet.

“The government is committed to welcoming 25,000 refugees by the end of the year,” Immigration Minister John McCallum told reporters according to AFP, “But we are also determined to do the job well, which means proper consideration be given to security concerns and to health concerns.”

He said Ottawa is looking to use commercial airlines, passenger ships and military transports to move asylum seekers, and could house them at Canadian military bases or with Canadian families who sponsor them.

He also said work has already started to select refugees, get exit permits for them and in the coming days Ottawa will “engage with the leaders of the countries where these refugees are residing.” McCallum singled out Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey as the “primary countries” it is looking to.

This decision have started to affect Canadians across the country as groups involved in housing and health are meeting to anticipate accommodation demands and medical needs. Some refugees of the war may suffer post traumatic stress, while others have not had access to primary health care in five years.

A group of family doctors in Toronto is expanding their clinics, expecting Syrians, both those sponsored by government and the increased numbers from private sponsors.

McCallum said that a detailed plan is to be announced in the coming days or weeks, he said. Meanwhile, he also announced Can$100 million (US$75 million) contribution to the UN refugee agency to support relief efforts in Syria and in neighboring countries.