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Canada slows down Syrian refugee intake | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
The Canadian government says it will resettle only 10,000 Syrian refugees by the end of this year - less than half the number it promised earlier. | |
But it said was still committed to bringing another 15,000 refugees from Syria by the end of February. | |
It had previously promised to take in 25,000 by the year's end. | |
Those who will be considered refugees include families, women at risk, and gay men and women. | |
CBC News had reported that the federal government would limit the resettlement to women, children and families only. | |
The newly elected Liberal government had committed itself to bringing in refugees in during the election campaign. | |
Officials said the delay did not have to do with security concerns. | |
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he rejected the idea of "exclusion" for single men. | |
"We want them to have a roof over their head, and the right support," said Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Minister John McCallum. | |
"It takes a bit of time to put that all in place. We're happy to take a little more time that originally planned to bring our new friends into the country." | |
The refugees will be both privately sponsored and government-assisted, either registered with the UN Refugee Agency or with the government of Turkey. | |
Government officials promised "robust" health and security screenings, to be done overseas, and said military and private aircraft would assist with transportation of refugees to Canada. | |
Refugees will go to 36 "destination" cities, 12 of them in Quebec. | |
Mr McCallum said the attacks in Paris did not affect the government's decision to slow down the transport of Syrian refugees, citing the logistical struggles with completing the pledge. | Mr McCallum said the attacks in Paris did not affect the government's decision to slow down the transport of Syrian refugees, citing the logistical struggles with completing the pledge. |
Mr Trudeau made Canada's acceptance of Syrian refugees central to his campaign. | |
After the Paris attacks, he reiterated his commitment to ending Canadian air strikes in Syria and Iraq. | After the Paris attacks, he reiterated his commitment to ending Canadian air strikes in Syria and Iraq. |