No pause in refugee flow expected for Edmonton

EDMONTON – Other cities across Canada may have asked for a pause in the flow of refugees, but coordinators in Edmonton say they do not expect to do likewise.

Jason Gariepy, communications manager of Catholic Social Services, which has handled resettling services for refugees, said it has been able to accommodate Syrian refugees so far.

READ MORE: New year, new country, new life for Syrian refugees in Edmonton

“We have been able to move the overwhelming majority of our refugees into permanent housing,” he said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We have been able to move the overwhelming majority of our refugees into permanent housing," he said.

“There have been no major obstacles to settlement, with the exception of the flu.”

Earlier this year, Global News reported on a letter, which was written by a director at the East Edmonton Health Centre, saying refugees arriving in Edmonton were more acutely ill upon arrival than what the centre was expecting. The letter was triggered by the flu and the fact that the refugees arrived in the city during the peak of the flu season.

Gariepy said the city would not be expecting or requesting any pause in services.

READ MORE: Edmonton dentist donates time to Syrian refugees

On March 16, the city of Moncton asked for a pause in resettling new Syrian refugees. In January, Toronto, Vancouver and Ottawa requested a pause in refugee flow while Halifax asked the federal government to slow down the number of refugees headed there.

READ MORE: Saskatchewan says refugees taxing resources, but no need to delay arrivals

Gariepy adds that 960 refugees have settled in the Capital Region and 860 have been placed into permanent homes.