The Canadian Press is reporting that it has obtained a leaked government document outlining the costs of bringing Syrian refugees to Canada.
During the recent federal election campaign, the Liberal Party promised to help with the migrant crisis in Europe by admitting 25,00 Syrian refugees by Christmas. When they won the election the leader and now Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau says they are sticking to the plan.
The leaked document is called, “Responding to the Syrian Refugee Crisis: Rapid Resettlement of 25,000 Syrians Funding Table”
The Canadian Post is reporting that it will cost some $1.2 billion dollars over the next six years.
Several government departments would be involved in the operation, including Immigration, which would require over $528 million this year. National Defence, which is currently upgrading and winterized barracks on bases across Canada for temporary accommodation for the refugees, will require over $98 million this year.
The government had set aside only $100 million to respond to international crisis, and another $100 million for the United Nations agencies dealing with refugee resettlement.
Some of the other Canadian agencies which will need additional funding to deal with the influx are the Canadian Border Services Agency, Public Health Agency Canada, and Global Affairs Canada.
Many in the initial group however, will be privately sponsored.
In response to queries for more details, the Immigration Department sent an email to Canadian Press saying they don’t respond to leaked documents.
Once they arrive, the refugees will certainly face some culture shock
During a visit to a refugee camp, reporter Matthew Fishcher noted in a story in the National Post that almost none knew where Canada was, other than it was far away. About half knew it was cold, and peopled by Christians.
There is also a growing backlash against the government plan. Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall has already written to the Prime Minister asking him to rethink the plan and go slower. This is over security concerns and overwhelming other social aid agencies.
In the U.S, several governor’s have said their states will refuse Syrian refugees, primarily on security concerns following the Paris attacks.
To counter what appears to be growing public opposition in Canada to the government’s plan to quickly bring in 25,000 Syrians, the Liberal Party is apparently set to spend $500,000 on an advertising campaign to promote it.
The National Post reports it has obtained the document http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/500k-federal-ad-campaign-to-tout-refugee-plan-as-a-national-project-document-reveals
called “Operation Syrian Refugees” noting it hoped to “demonstrate Canada’s compassionate values”
An official source told the newspaper that it appears to be an early working document, but a Liberal party spokesman told the paper that no decision has been made on advertising.
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