Refugee reception may be rocky
Liberal government hoping to counter skepticism, fear of newcomers
OTTAWA — The federal government, acknowledging the potential for “backlash” against its Syrian refugee initiative, has launched an unprecedented public relations effort to persuade Canadians to welcome the Syrians with open arms.
Immigration Minister John McCallum, one of the ministers in charge of the refugee project, said Tuesday there could be pushback if Canadians perceive that the government is coddling Syrian refugees.
“Canadians are struggling for jobs themselves,” he said. “Canadians have been waiting, in some case years, for social housing. There is a possibility of a social backlash against refugees if Canadians see them as being pampered.”
McCallum was speaking at an unprecedented gathering of federal, municipal and provincial government officials, along with civil society groups, hosted by Gov. Gen. David Johnston at Rideau Hall. The event was the latest effort to counter public skepticism and, in some cases, fear, about the coming wave of newcomers, and instead rally support for them.
Polls in November showed Canadian public opinion was split down the middle over the Liberal government plan to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end of the year. It’s unclear how much people’s views shifted after the government said it would take an extra two months to accomplish the task.
But a draft version of the federal plan to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees, leaked in midNovember, noted the “50-50 split between support and opposition,” and included a detailed section on how the government could bring Canadians on board — and keep them there.
Public support will be essential when the first wave of Syrians touches down in Montreal or Toronto in the coming days, experts say, and also over the long term as those refugees settle into their new homes and start joining Canadian society.
The government wants the first mass flights of refugees to arrive by chartered aircraft next week: it is now looking for a carrier that can fly at least 200 refugees per flight from Turkey and Jordan to Toronto and Montreal between Dec. 10 and Feb. 29.
“Refugee resettlement depends a great deal, if not more than anything else, on public acceptance,” said retired ambassador and immigration officer Joe Bissett.
“Which is why I think there’s a bit of nervousness in government right now.”
That the Governor General would personally host an event on the refugee project was indicative of just how focused Canadian leaders are on selling the initiative.
Describing the Syrian refugee crisis as a “defining moment for Canada,” Johnston noted in a speech that previous waves of immigrants and refugees, going back to the earliest European settlers, had relied on the goodwill of those already here.
“The settlers at Port Royal, in what is now Nova Scotia, would never have survived their first winters in the early 1600s were it not for the generosity and guidance of indigenous peoples,” he said.
“Like those early settlers, many Syrian refugees will be arriving in winter. A warm Canadian welcome in a cold Canadian winter: What could be more fitting?”
McCallum made economic arguments. The federal immigration minister said there could be a “short-term cost” to accepting so many Syrian refugees over such a compressed period of time.
But he said it would end up being “a long-term investment” as those new Canadians settle down and join the workforce.
Refugee groups said they have never seen such a wellspring of interest and enthusiasm for their cause.
“Refugee resettlement depends a great deal, if not more than anything else, on public acceptance.
JOE BISSETT RETIRED AMBASSADOR, IMMIGRATION OFFICER