A Canadian provincial leader called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to suspend his plan to bring in 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end of the year, citing security concerns in the wake of the Paris attacks.
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In light of the deadly Paris attacks in which at least one and possibly more of the attackers had apparently made their way into France in the ongoing wave of migrants many Canadians want to slow the process down to ensure adequate security checks before admitting people to Canada. But Canada’s health minister signaled Monday the Liberal government remains committed to the goal.
The Paris attacks have not changed Ontario’s commitment, Hoskins added.
Wall says in a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that he is anxious that fast-tracking refugee claims could undermine the screening process.
Wall told reporters while he’s not confident in Canada’s ability to settle 25,000 Syrian refugees effectively, the “No. 1 priority” is security.
“Canadians expect (us) to welcome in refugees fleeing a bad, awful conflict in Syria but to do so in a way that keeps Canadians and their communities safe”, Trudeau said.
Alberta Premier Rachel Notley says her province stands ready and willing to take in Syrian refugees on whatever timeline the federal government deems suitable.
Federal interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose said since the premiers lack key information on the refugee initiative, it’s no wonder they want a second look.
In his letter, Wall wrote that Saskatchewan would support “a redoubling of screening and security efforts erring on the side of caution, deliberativeness and discernment”.
One of the attackers in Paris had a Syrian passport, and the Paris prosecutors’ office says fingerprints from the attacker match those of someone who passed through Greece in October.
However, Showler said the screening of Canadian refugees, which involves three different phases, is robust.
First, the UNHCR has already triaged the refugees and assessed those that would make ideal candidates for re-settlement, he said, noting that less than five per cent of asylum seekers make that initial cut.
And finally, there is an additional security review of the candidates by Canadian security agencies, including CBSA, CSIS and the RCMP.
She said the refugees were not terrorist but fleeing from terror.
He added that, when the Syrian civil war began four years ago, the first refugee flows out of Syria were people who were primarily secular, politically active and pro-democratic.
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Whether they are fighter jets or ground troops, Bell said the end of the Syrian war isn’t going away through military action. “We know who those people are”.
