Conservative Leader Stephen Harper said that his party plans to take 鈥渃oncrete steps to expedite the process鈥� for refugees applying to Canada 鈥渋n the very near future.鈥�
Harper made the comments in Prince Edward Island, where he said his plan will 鈥減rioritize the most vulnerable and do everything necessary to protect our national security.鈥�
Harper added that Canada has been a 鈥渨orld leader in refugee resettlement,鈥� and intends to continue in a way that is 鈥渞esponsible and affordable鈥� for Canadians.
麻豆影视 has learned that immigration officials have been ordered to present Harper with an urgent action plan that would have Canada move swiftly to welcome several thousand Syrian refugees before the end of the year.
Sources also say that Harper鈥檚 initial target of 10,000 Syrians over four years will be increased. A donation-matching program similar to those used in natural disasters will also be unveiled and changes will be made to make it easier for private citizens and organizations to sponsor refugees.
Women, children and seniors, as well as persecuted religious minorities, will be considered top priority, sources say.
麻豆影视 has also learned that Harper has ruled out any military airlifts as part of his action plan, which could be unveiled as early as this weekend.
In a statement Thursday, the Conservatives outlined measures they say have already speeded up processing of asylum applications, including eliminating a backlog at Winnipeg鈥檚 refugee application centre and deploying more personnel to embassies in Beirut, Amman and Ankara.
The Conservative leader鈥檚 promise of 鈥渃oncrete steps鈥� came on the same day NDP Leader Tom Mulcair, who was speaking in Winnipeg, accused Harper Thursday of 鈥減iling up the excuses for doing nothing鈥� to help refugees.
Mulcair鈥檚 comments echoed those made by Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, who said Wednesday that Harper was coming up with 鈥渆xcuses to not do more.鈥�
Mulcair also said the potential security threat of war criminals and ISIS fighters entering Canada through the refugee system is 鈥渘ot an excuse鈥� for inaction.
鈥淐anada can and should be doing its fair share as requested by the United Nations,鈥� Mulcair said, adding that 鈥渁ll countries are going to have to deal with these security issues.鈥�
On Thursday, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau told reporters in Vancouver that he was 鈥渆ncouraged鈥� to hear that Harper said a plan to aid refugees would be forthcoming.
"Canadians want more done," Trudeau added. "I think the prime minister is probably realizing that he has to do more and in short order.鈥�
Contrasting commitments
Approximately 2,500 refugees from Syria have arrived in Canada since the federal government began creating spaces for Syrians in 2013, but the party leaders disagree on how many more should be accepted.
- New Democrats have said Ottawa should take 46,000 government-sponsored refugees by 2019, including 10,000 refugees by the end of 2015 alone.
- The Liberals have said Canada should take in 25,000 Syrian refugees before next year.
- The Conservatives have committed to admitting 11,300 people by the end of 2018.
Demonstrators in Edmonton this week called on Ottawa to let 50,000 asylum-seekers into the country immediately.
With files from The Canadian Press
