Canadian commitments for Syrian refugees

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After 2 weeks of pressure to do more for the victims of the conflict in Syria, Stephen Harper’s government announced more humanitarian aid today. This came at the same time that the province made a funding announcement to help refugees.

Today the federal government announced Canada will provide $100 million in additional humanitarian assistance for the millions of Syrians crammed into refugee camps. And Premier Kathleen Wynne says the Ontario government is pledging $10.5 million to bring 10 000 more refugees to the province and to support Syrian relief efforts.

“As we watch the situation steadily worsen in Syria and the surrounding region and watch the toll of human suffering continue to mount, it is clear we need to do more.”

Premier Kathlene Wynne has announced Ontario will give $8.5 million to help bring 10 000 Syrian refugees here by the end of 2016.

And another $2 million will go to immediate humanitarian aide on the ground overseas.

“As we all know the number of refugees entering our province and the speed at which they can arrive is the sole discretion of the federal government. So it’s absolutely vital that the federal government do it’s part.”

Wynne has been critical of Ottawa’s response to the Syrian crisis, saying on Friday that Ottawa needs to “step up.

At the same time as her news conference, Christian Paradis, the federal International Development Minister, held a news conference of his own in Ottawa to announce a syrian emergency relief fund.

“The government of Canada will match all eligible contributions of Canadians through this new relief fund up to a total of $100 million.”

That’s on top of $503 million in funding already set aside for humanitarian efforts in Syria and neighbouring
countries.

The world turned its attention to the crisis last week after a photo of drowned 3-year-old Alan Kurdi was widely publicized.

4 million people have fled Syria since the conflict broke out in 2011.

A second announcement, to speed up the slow process of resettling refugees in Canada, is expected from the federal government within a few days.