Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is staying firm on his plan to resettle 25,000 refugees by the end of 2015, in light of terror attacks in Paris that left 129 people dead. However, not all Canadians have expressed agreement with the prime minister’s intentions.
Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall criticized the plan in an open letter after violence in Paris left 129 people dead.
“If even a small number of individuals who wish to do harm to our country are able to enter Canada as a result of a rushed refugee resettlement process, the results could be devastating,” wrote Wall, in the Nov. 16, 2015 letter. “The recent attacks in Paris are a grim reminder of the death and destruction even a small number of malevolent individuals can inflict upon a peaceful country and its citizens.”
In response to criticism from detractors, Prime Minister Trudeau reaffirmed his government’s position, as well as the human importance of helping resettle refugees.
“It didn’t take the tragedy in Paris for us to suddenly realize that security’s important,” said Prime Minister Trudeau, in a Nov. 17, 2015 statement to reporters. “We’ve known for a long time, and we continue to be very much committed to keeping Canadians safe while we do the right thing to engage responsibly on this humanitarian crisis.”
The first phase of the Liberal party’s plan is a rigorous screening process to identify refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey. The government will work with the United Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Jordan and Lebanon, and will continue to work with the government of Turkey in a similar process.
Michel Culuombe, the director of Canada’s Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) said that CSIS is working closely in the screening process, and that “the measures in place are robust.”
The government said that it is prioritizing women, children, and families, to minimize security risks, and to provide a new home for vulnerable refugees. CBC News’s Rosemary Barton reported that the plan will exclude unaccompanied men seeking asylum.
Phase two of the plan is focused on the selection and processing refugees. The immigration process of interviewing visa applicants, in addition to medical and security screenings, will both both take place during this process. The Canadian government has sent 500 experienced visa workers to facilitate the processing in Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey.
According to Al Jazeera, advocates for immigrant rights in Canada and the United States insist that refugees are not likely sources of threats, since they go through a more rigorous screening process than any other immigrant.
Phase three of the plan outlines the transportation for refugees. Beginning in December 2015, refugees will land in Montreal, Toronto, or Edmonton on privately chartered airlines. Military aircraft will also assist if needed.
Phase four of the plan will welcome refugees to Canada. Most newcomers will be housed in Military bases. Other housing will include hotels and abandoned hospitals. The military is already working on plans to winterize bases in preparation for the refugees.
Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard said that the province is prepared to take in 3,600 refugees. If the province is expected to take in a greater number, more money will be required.
Phase five of the plan centres around settlement and community integration. Refugees will be settled under either the labels of government-assisted refugees (GARs) or privately sponsored refugees (PSRs). GARs will be provided with governmental support, which includes clothing, food, household needs, and household goods, like linen and furniture. PSRs will be supported by sponsors who will provide care, lodging, settlement assistance, and social support. The duration for PSR support will stretch for 12 months, or until the sponsored refugee is self-sufficient.
Guelph businessman and entrepreneur Jim Estill has pledged to support 50 Syrian refugees. The Guelph Mercury reported that his donations could reach up to $1.5 million.
CBC News reported that, according to a government document obtained by the Canadian Press, the cost for the Liberal’s plan is documented at approximately $1.2 billion over the next six years. The funding model states that $876.7 million will be needed in 2015 and 2016 alone.
Canada’s track record for refugee and immigration policies has progressively become more inclusive. In 1914, Canada turned away 352 Indian immigrants arriving on the Japanese steamship, Komagata Maru. In 1939, 907 Jewish immigrants aboard the MS St.louis were denied entry into Canada. The boat had to turn back and many of the passengers ended up in concentration camps.
According to Janet Dench, executive director of the Montreal-based Council for Refugees, said that Canadian culture values humanitarianism. She added that the experience of taking in over 50,000 refugees decades ago from the Vietnam War and other Southeast Asian conflicts was “transformational” for the positive role Canada sees itself having in world affairs.