Quebec will announce its plan Wednesday to welcome Syrian refugees.
Immigration Minister Kathleen Weil said Tuesday she likes the federal plan to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end of February, saying they are ready to help.
“It's a very, very important humanitarian mission. Quebec is proud and I think all Quebecers are proud to be playing this role. We get so many calls from groups who want to help, who want to contribute,” she said after the federal government’s announcement Tuesday it would push back the refugee resettlement deadline by two months.
Extending the deadline by two months will make it easier for the province to take in its share, she said, adding that that they would have been ready if the deadline had been the end of December
Canada's plan to screen for security and health concerns overseas before the refugees are flown here will be very helpful, said Weil.
Refugee aid groups like Ville Emard’s Social assistance centre for immigrants, or CSAI, hope the province’s plan will include plenty of resources to help them assist refugees at integrate into Quebec.
Lida Aghasi, CSAI’s director, wants clarity on exactly how many government-sponsored Syrian refugees will be coming to Montreal, and when.
“We have to see what are the resources? What are the programs that we are offering them? They can't just learn English or French by themselves or find a job by themselves,” she said, adding that she knows her group and others on the front lines will be ready to help, no matter what. “We are not worried at all.”
