The Canadian Press
Premiers across the country reiterated yesterday that their governments are prepared to accept thousands of Syrian refugees but some are raising questions about funding, particularly for housing.
B.C. Premier Christy Clark noted Metro Vancouver’s housing prices are the highest in the country and funding details still need to be worked out with the federal government.
“We hope that they’ll be able to make sure that they have the funding in place to ensure that every refugee who settles has the strongest possible chance of success in our province,” Clark said yesterday.
“And that means not just settling in Vancouver, the most expensive housing market in the country, but to settle all across the province,” she added.
Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger said he has raised concerns about rent with federal Public Safety minister Ralph Goodale.
“In some circumstances, the rents are going to be prohibitive so they took that under advisement,” Selinger said in Brandon, Man.
The federal government plans to bring in 25,000 Syrian refugees to Canada by the end of February, but a lot of specifics on how that will be accomplished haven’t been spelled out.
Health and security screening is to take place overseas before refugees are flown to Toronto and Montreal—largely on chartered aircraft—beginning in December.
From there, they will fan out either to one of 36 cities that have settlement-services contracts with the federal government or to where their private sponsors are located.
Temporary accommodation, if required, is to be provided by the military.
Alberta is planning to take 2,500-3,000 refugees spread between Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, Lethbridge, and Medicine Hat.
The Alberta government says it has put up more than $1.2 million so far.
But Health minister Sarah Hoffman said she’ll be asking the federal government for another $5 million to help cover costs for one year as Syrian families begin their new lives in Alberta.
Quebec said it is prepared to accept 7,300 refugees—half before Dec. 31 and the rest by the end of next year.
Pierre Moreau, the province’s acting public security minister, said the plan calls for Ottawa to house new arrivals in federally-operated welcome centres before they are relocated to one of 13 communities.
Premier Brad Wall said Saskatchewan is preparing for the arrival of about 850 refugees.
He noted the number is based on immigration proportions allotted to the provinces, but cautioned the figure has not yet been confirmed by Ottawa.
