The Weyburn Syrian Refugee Committee is hoping recent events will help expedite the arrival of the three families of Syrian refugees plus a single male.
This followed on the heels of word that the refugees arrival was going to be delayed because processing had dropped off after the federal government reached their stated goal of 25,000 refugees in Canada at the end of February.
Don Horner, chair of the refugee committee, said he wrote three letters, to Immigration minister John McCallum, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Saskatchewan MP Ralph Goodale.
While not receiving any reply from the prime minister or McCallum, he did get a reply from Goodale’s office, with a request to forward the names and case file numbers of the refugee families who have been approved for Weyburn, and they would see about getting those files expedited.
Word also came on Thursday that the federal government will now take an additional 10,000 refugees, as there were a number of refugee families approved to come to Canada, but whose approval came after the initial group of 25,000 and were now being held up.
“We’re hoping we’ll get our first family here some time in April,” said Horner, adding he hopes the recent news will help speed up the arrival of the other families as well.
He noted the Weyburn refugee committee has now raised about $100,000, which was their goal to support the three families and the single male.
“We might have to do a little more fundraising, but we’re in a good position to welcome these people,” said Horner.
One recent development that also arose with the arrival of the first 25,000 refugees is that the federal government will no longer pay the airfare of the refugees, but will offer low-interest loans to help pay for those costs. Horner suggested the committee may do some additional fundraising to cover off these expenses, as the fare may be around $2,000 per person. With the first family comprised of five people, that would be a $10,000 added expense.
