Justin Trudeau’s promise to bring 25,000 refugees to Canada before 2016 has sparked a lot of controversy. Many Canadians have opposed the government’s decision, claiming it will take a toll on the economy and local communities.
But according to a research fellow at Simon Fraser University’s School of International Studies, Dr. Shayna Plaut, people’s fears couldn’t be further from the truth.
“When we think of this idea of refugees as being a drain in the economy, we need to recognize you might be thinking about that based on fear, but not actually based on facts.”
Plaut says many Canadians believe refugees will worsen the economy by forcing people to compete for resources, but she says research has shown refugees actually re-energize communities.
“You want to be able to stabilize yourself, stabilize your family. So when you have that kind of energy and drive, how is that not going to then end up becoming successful in terms of the entire community; literally revitalization.”
Places such as Utica and Buffalo in New York have experienced firsthand the benefits of welcoming an influx of refugees, says Plaut. She explains refugees helped revitalize these communities after they first settled in the 1990s.
“You’re talking about a group of people who’ve been able to flee from very hard circumstances and want to make a new life, so there’s fire, there’s desire,” says Plaut.
However, she says this transition will not happen overnight; refugees will need immediate help, meaning housing and food. Then they will go through a mourning process, thinking about what they’ve lost. Then, Plaut explains, comes the re-emergence period.
The government will be releasing more details about the refugee settlement plan soon, which Plaut hopes includes a conversation to help people understand refugees are not all one “lump.” She emphasizes they are all very different individuals exercising their right for safety.
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