Canada: Welcome Refugees

On September 2, 2015 the body of three-year-old Alan Kurdi washed ashore on a Turkish beach. His family was just one of thousands fleeing the brutal conflict in Syria in search of safety in Europe, and in Canada.

Canadians reacted to this tragedy with an overwhelming expression of goodwill through offers to sponsor and assist refugees. The commitment by the newly elected government to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end of February is a welcome signal that Canada's refugee policies are changing for the better.

In order to live up to this pledge, significant resources will be needed to ensure that resettlement is done successfully, sustainably and on a non-discriminatory basis. 

The conflict in Syria has resulted in the largest refugee crisis since World War II. Over four million people have fled the fighting with more leaving every day. Most are in the neighbouring countries of Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan where resources are stretched beyond the breaking point.

A growing number of refugees are faced with the impossible choice of remaining in desperate conditions or making terrifying journeys and risking their lives to escape endless suffering.

This global crisis urgently needs a global solution. Call on the Canadian government to play a leading role in developing and coordinating a more coherent and rights-based global approach to the Syrian crisis.

Dear Minister McCallum,  

I want Canada to be a country that welcomes and supports refugees. I am encouraged by the commitment we have heard from both Prime Minister Trudeau and you as the new Minister to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees in Canada by the end of February 2016. 


I urge you to:


- Ensure that the necessary resources are in place to successfully and sustainably resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees through government sponsorship and chosen on a non-discriminatory basis.
- Introduce flexible measures (such as Temporary Resident Permits) for Syrians with family in Canada.
- Develop longer term plans for substantial resettlement efforts in the coming years.
- Ensure the commitment to resettle Syrian refugees does not come at the expense of refugees from other parts of the world.  
- Embrace language, policies and practices which communicate that Canada welcomes refugees.


I further urge you to build on that domestic action by actively working for a coordinated, generous and rights-based global response to the Syrian refugee crisis. It’s time for Canada to be a leader again within the international community.

[Your comment here]

Yours sincerely,
[Your name]

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