Tories drag their heels on refugees
As a member of the PEN committee for Writers in Exile and a supporter of our local refugee shelter, Romero House, I have watched the brutal immigration policies of the Harper government over the past 10 years.
In 2011 the government said it wanted any refugees admitted into Canada to be sponsored privately, to keep costs down. So hundreds of church and community groups found refugee families and individuals in the camps to sponsor, many of them Syrian. These private groups made their applications for the refugees, found accommodation, furniture, food and people to help integrate them into Canadian society. Then they waited — three months, nine months, two years —and Canadian immigration simply refused to process them. No response, no explanation, nothing. We couldn’t believe it.
This was under then Immigration Minister Jason Kenney, and it’s just as bad now under Chris Alexander.
In scores of these projects the accommodation had to be let go, the furniture sold and the groups disbanded, and the refugees continue to live in the camps without hope.
I have no idea why the Conservative government refused to process these applications for years. Private individuals would pay. Whatever is going on in Ottawa, we have to challenge it. Especially now with this heartbreaking Syrian crisis. Keith Ross Leckie, Toronto Every once in a while, a collective pulse beat reverberates around the world when an event, happening or incident captures the unbridled attention of humanity. Such is the refugee crisis in Syria that now has the heart-wrenching image of a lifeless child as its face — the victim at water’s edge in Turkey in a desperate attempt to escape the horrors of Syria’s civil war.
If that image impels mankind to once again to act and snuff out the atrocities of Syria if not the entire Middle East, perhaps, just maybe, unlike before, it will not be a bridge too far. Claude McDonald, Kitchener, Ont. The refugee crisis is not an election issue, but by sitting on his posterior, Stephen Harper is making it one. In spite of what the Conservative party says, it is exactly like the Vietnamese boat crisis of the 1970s. The Conservatives should be hanging their collective heads in shame. I am ashamed to be Canadian. Laurie Nielsen, Hamilton I certainly sympathize with the plight of the refugees. However, it always amazes me that the people of Canada shout and yell about how hateful our government is by being cautious as to who we allow into our country. Meanwhile, these same people do not seem to have a bit of concern about the tragic lack of affordable community housing right here in Toronto for those who already live here. Let’s get our priorities straight. Marilyn Raphael, Toronto Harper would rather spend millions of dollars dropping bombs on Syrian targets than reach out a hand to meaningfully assist Syrian refugees. He painted himself into a corner when he started exaggerating the threat of jihadist terrorists for his own partisan political purposes.
Germany’s leader, Angela Merkel, is not paralyzed by an irrational fear of terrorism. She is showing real leadership by championing the resettlement and integration of hundreds of thousands of the war-ravaged refugees.
Among the refugees are highly trained individuals, including doctors, scientists, technologists and tradesmen. If Canada had been led by xenophobic leaders in the past, our country would never have survived long enough to achieve its unique ethnic diversity but instead would have disintegrated into an assortment of resource-rich territories belonging to the U.S. Lloyd Atkins, Vernon, B.C.
“The refugee crisis is not an election issue but by sitting on his posterior, Stephen Harper is making it one.” LAURIE NIELSEN HAMILTON
Harper relates everything to ISIS. He wonders: How many more Canadian bombs would have prevented that little boy drowning? Canada is facing a crisis beyond Harper’s understanding. It’s difficult to imagine Canada’s international reputation getting any lower, but he is doing his best to realize it. Raymond Peringer, Toronto While I believe that Canadians should do whatever is possible to help the tragic situation, just as Canadians have always done, I resent the implication that somehow our prime minister, like him or not, is responsible for what is fast becoming what could be the most dangerous situation since the Second World War. Roy Cowan, Port Hope, Ont. Re Let’s not forget that in Canada, we’re all
migrants, Sept. 9 In 2011, 20.6 per cent of Canadians were immigrants. The rest, like my living family members, were born here. None of us “came” to Canada. We are not migrants, we are Canadian. Bert Dandy, Niagara Falls, Ont. We must deny our votes to any and all candidates who would continue Canada’s destructive and deadly military role in the Middle East. Some of those unfortunate Syrian refugees are probably fleeing Canadian bombs. George Dunbar, Toronto Regardless of how many thousand refugees Canada accepts, transporting them will be an enormous challenge. While airplanes can handle dozens and hundreds, transatlantic passenger ships, especially liners, can accommodate up to 3,000. It would be a remarkable, humanitarian gesture — one the world would never forget — if each major cruise company would provide one liner to help these desperate men, women and children reach Canada safely. Michael Dupuis, Kingston, Ont. We are told we don’t want to focus too much on refugees as we need to focus on root causes. Should we then close food banks till we find the root causes of poverty? And close prisons till we find the root causes of crime?
It would be too bad to stop hosting refugees for fear there wouldn’t be enough money for bombs. David Lander, Bewdley, Ont. Give credit where it is due. When Harper mindlessly rushed into this Mideast war, Justin Trudeau said the emphasis should be on humanitarian aid. Harper has never been a good listener. Robert Billyard, Mission, B.C.
I am 12 years of age and the news about the Syrian refugees trying to find a safer place to call home made me think of how small my problems are. I was moved by the death of the little Syrian boy who drowned. He was so young. I want Canada to welcome more people from Syria who are just seeking peace and safety outside of their war-torn country. Everyone no matter their age, race, colour or religion should have freedom and peace if they seek it. Canada can help these people. Kate Andrews, Guelph, Ont. Heather Mallick says she wants to think about how best to help other children like Alan Kurdi. Why not contact “Lifeline Syria,” the organization that sponsors refugees to come to Canada. As board member Leen Al Zaibak said, “You can make a difference. Don’t wait for the government.” The best way to make an impact on this crisis is through actions not hollow words. Susan Schacter, Toronto I was surprised to hear recently that many Muslim countries in the Middle East, including the United Arab Emirates, have said they will not accept any refugees. These are very rich countries that share the same language, religion and customs and yet close their borders to those fleeing a country torn apart by war. The countries that are doing what they can to help refugees should be putting pressure on Arab counties to help by taking a share of the refugees for resettlement. B. Hunter, Cobourg, Ont. Turkey deserves five stars for taking in two million Syrian refugees since the crisis started four years ago. Germany also deserves five stars for planning to take in 800,000 refugees in 2015. Israel receives no stars. Israel, which borders Syria, will not be taking in any Syrian refugees. In fact, it is building a fence between Jordan and Israel to keep out Syrian refugees. Ken Sisler, Newmarket We should send in two C17s and a staff from the immigration office to overflowing refugee camps in Jordan and load up the planes. A $100 million is a pittance in our overall budget to settle some families. They just want to get to a country where their children can get food and water and be safe.
Send an Airbus to Germany to help relieve some of their burden. Surely we can do that as we already set the precedent when flew two minor functionaries to Europe from Toronto. Allan McPherson, Newmarket Harper alluded to the complexity of processing Syrian refugees into Canada. This is the same government that was able to process hundreds of thousands of “skilled” temporary and casual workers on demand of big business primarily in Alberta — both on a very timely basis and with minimal justification.
There is no reason for the persistent delay. Gary MacDonald, Toronto The prime minister is right to insist that immigrants need to be screened before being allowed to come to Canada and that we “make sure that of all the millions who could apply, you’re bringing in the most vulnerable.”
Alan Kurdi has proven that he qualifies. Can he reapply? John Van Burek, Toronto