PMO interference in refugee applications shows ‘lack of transparency’: Trudeau

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau says he isn’t surprised by a report that says the processing of some Syrian refugees was halted this spring so the Prime Minister’s Office could vet their applications.

Trudeau is calling it further evidence of Stephen Harper’s lack of transparency, and is urging Canadians to vote the Conservatives out of office on October 19th.

READ MORE: Harper in B.C., Mulcair and Trudeau in Ontario today

A Globe and Mail report says the Prime Minister’s Office intervened in the handling of Syrian refugees, saying all applicants referred by the United Nations would require Harper’s approval.

The report says the halting of applications lasted for at least several weeks and was not disclosed to the public, while an audit was ordered of all UN referrals from 2014 and 2015.

A spokesman for Immigration Minister Chris Alexander says the government was concerned about the integrity of the system and wanted to ensure that security was not compromised.

Trudeau was campaigning north of Toronto in the riding of Vaughan-Woodbridge – won in 2011 by high-profile Conservative Julian Fantino – to outline his party’s plans to spend two-billion dollars to improve GO Transit.