Days before the Liberal government is expected to publicly unveil plans to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees, 400 people filled the Dutton Theatre at the Centre branch of the Calgary Public Library for a forum on the topic.
A task force of representatives from various organizations spoke about how to accommodate 2,100 Syrian refugees arriving in Calgary in the coming weeks and months, including about 1,000 who are being privately sponsored by Calgarians.
READ MORE: Here’s how refugees are screened before arriving in Canada
The task force has been planning how to ramp up existing services for refugees for several weeks, including things like special school programs for child refugees entering Calgary schools.
It’s also looking at how to connect refugees with Arabic-speaking doctors so they can get the treatment and medication they need, and lining up employers who want to hire refugees once they’re settled, in industries like services, processing and agriculture.
The biggest challenge the task force is concerned about is how to house the refugees, particularly given the city’s low vacancy rate.
“We know that the housing cost is a bit higher than what government housing allowance provides, and also for private sponsorship groups because these numbers are coming all at the same time that could really put pressure on their resources,” Fariborz Birjandian, CEO of the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society, said. “So if we address the housing, that could be a major, major support.”
Birjandian is also the chair of the Alberta Association of Immigrant-Serving Agencies. He said the federal government needs to push landlords to reduce their rates for a year until refugees get settled.
“And also, people that have housing available, and they have suitable units or basement, but they can provide as families, that would be helpful.”
Alberta Premier Rachel Notley said Thursday she’s confident people in the province will rise to the challenge of helping the refugees.
“I know we will open our hearts, I know we will open our arms and our doors, because that’s the kind of people we are and have always been.”
“Today’s refugees who come to make a better life for their families now will contribute to our community, and to our leadership, and our economic activities in the future,” Notley said.
READ MORE: Notley says Calgary, Edmonton among 5 Alberta cities likely to take refugees
Notley said Calgary and Edmonton are expected to take in the bulk of between 2,500 and 3,000 Syrian refugees coming to Alberta, with the remainder spread out over three other cities — Medicine Hat, Lethbridge and Red Deer.
In Red Deer, Alta., the Catholic Services Society is reaching out to the public to see if anyone is interested in providing a home for refugees, seeking such information as whether the space is wheelchair accessible or child-friendly.
Alberta-based rental agency Boardwalk says it will offer discounts on apartments in several Alberta cities, as well as Saskatoon, Regina, London, Ont., and Montreal to help provide housing.
For its part, the military is warning people who were scheduled to stay at barracks in Edmonton early in the new year that they may find themselves in different accommodation.
READ MORE: Canadian Armed Forces bases preparing to house Syrian refugees
With files from The Canadian Press
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