Premier Philippe Couillard wants to do more to welcome refugees from Syria to Quebec.
At the inauguration of a daycare on an Aboriginal reserve in the Lac St. Jean region Thursday, Couillard said Quebec had to “much better” to welcome refugees from the country “devastated by terrorism and war.”
According to the premier, 643 Syrians have come to Quebec since the beginning of the year. He expects 1,900 Syrians will immigrate to Canada by the end of 2015.
Couillard said the province was ready to host “hundreds or thousands” of new refugees.
He noted there was still time to help other people like little Alan Kurdi and his family and reach out to them as Quebec has “often done.”
Couillard has also asked federal parties that are campaigning to rise above partisan jousting on the issue.
