Canada’s Syrian refugee plan limited to women, children, families

Canada’s Syrian refugee plan will be limited to women, children and families from now on after increased security concerns about single males.

Officials have already managed to screen over 100 refugees a day in Lebanon over the last six weeks to join the program.

The federal government has yet to formally reveal the specifics of the plan to meet the December 31 target of resettling 25,000 people, a commitment made during the election campaign. Most nations along Europe’s refugee corridor, except Greece, abruptly shut their borders Thursday to those not coming from war-torn countries such as Syria, Afghanistan or Iraq, leaving thousands desperately seeking a better life in the continent stranded at Balkan border crossings.

The total cost of the program is expected to be $1.2 billion over six years. These figures mean that approximately $876.7 million would be required in 2015-2016 alone. Canada’s screening is being co-ordinated across multiple departments, including CSIS and the RCMP.

But many will initially be put up at military bases, with CFB Trenton, in eastern Ontario, preparing to take 10,000. Other kinds of housing will also be used, including hotels and abandoned hospitals.

Refugees will not be housed in tents in Canada. Majority of those incoming will be arriving to Toronto and Montreal. Those rights apply to refugees once they arrive in Canada and could open the government up to potential legal problems, if applied.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised to bring in 25,000 refugees by the end of the year, however, his administration has come under increased pressure to ensure security during the screening process, especially after the terrorist attacks in France.

“This crisis is not just about a humanitarian project”, Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan said of the refugee resettlement last week.