NDP lays out next steps to help Syrian refugees

Today, New Democrats outlined the next steps in the NDP’s five-point plan to help Syrian refugees.

“Time and time again, when humanitarian crisis has struck, Canadians have answered the call with generosity,” said NDP Foreign Affairs critic Paul Dewar. “Let us move forward with concrete measures focused on saving lives now and a stable plan for helping in the years to come.”

After resettling 10,000 government-sponsored Syrian refugees by the end of this year, New Democrats will increase the number of government-sponsored Syrian refugees by 9,000 per year for the next four years.

François Crépeau, United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, has called for the West to resettle 1 million Syrian refugees over the next five years. Canada’s share of the global total to be 9,000 refugees per year.

In addition, New Democrats will fast-track private sponsorships with no cap, remove the bureaucratic obstacles to private sponsorships, treat all refugees equally by ending Canada’s policy of discrimination on the basis of religion, and provide temporary resident permits for Syrians who wish to come and stay temporarily with family.

“There are moments in history that define us as a people and as a country,” said NDP critic for International Development Hélène Laverdière. “With so many in dire need, this is our moment. We must act now.”