2nd Session, 41st Parliament,
Volume 149, Issue 122
Thursday, February 26, 2015
The Honourable Pierre Claude Nolin, Speaker
Citizenship and Immigration
Syrian Refugees
Hon. Mobina S. B. Jaffer: Honourable senators, my question is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate. As you know, the conflict in Syria is ongoing and the refugee crisis is getting increasingly worse. According to the United Nations Refugee Agency, there are now 6.5 million Syrian refugees in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq. Can you give us an update on Canada’s efforts to mitigate this crisis? How many Syrian refugees have come to Canada to date?
Hon. Claude Carignan (Leader of the Government): I thank the honourable senator for her question. I will come back to you on that with the exact number of Syrian refugees in Canada after next week’s break.
Senator Jaffer: I appreciate your answer, Leader. Would it also be possible to find out the number of refugees the government plans to accept in the future?
Senator Carignan: Senator, when Canada renewed its commitment to Syrian refugees, it committed to welcoming 10,000 more Syrians over the next three years, which brings Canada’s total effort up to 11,300 Syrian refugees.