CORNWALL, Ontario – Syrian refugees will begin arriving in Cornwall next month, according to a report from CTV News.
The national news service reported late Thursday night it has obtained a document that shows as many as 900 refugees could land each day in Toronto and Montreal beginning Dec. 1 from places like Lebanon, Jordan and even Turkey.
After landing the refugees will be housed at nearby sites to Toronto and Montreal, as well as in Cornwall and Trois-Rivières, Que.
The refugees would presumably be housed at the Nav Centre in Cornwall.
Nav Centre officials have not confirmed a move to resettle Syrian refugees is imminent, but MP Guy Lauzon did say Thursday he has put that agency and officials from the Canadian government in contact to discuss such a plan.
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne has suggested she’d welcome as many as 10,000 refugees to this province.
“The government has reiterated its commitment to resettling 25,000 Syrian refugees and more details will be released in the coming days,” said Citizen and Immigration Canada spokesperson Jessica Seguin. “As Minister (John) McCallum has stated, the government is committed to doing this fast, but also doing it right and doing it well.”
Some city councillors have suggested to Seaway News it’s only a matter of time before refugees are housed in the city.
“I’ve only heard rumours myself, nothing official. But because the feds are the lead, we probably won’t hear until it’s 100 per cent,” said Coun. Justin Towndale. “But it would make sense to me. Nav Centre is a good facility to house displaced people.”
CTV reported the Syrians will be identified by the United Nations and screened on the ground by the CBSA and CSIS, which will examine documents and biometric data, such as fingerprints.
– With Seaway News files.
