www.comoxvalleyecho.com FRIDAY.SEPTEMBER 18, 2015
Cumberland supports efforts to bring Syrian refugees to Canada BY MICHAEL BRIONES Echo Staff
Cumberland councillors have agreed to join the call for Canada to do more in assisting people that have been displaced by the war in Syria. Councillor Roger Kishi brought up this issue to support the Greater Victoria mayors, who have banded together and written an open letter encouraging residents and Canadians to act globally to support efforts to bring more Syrian refugees to Canada. Kishi said locally, the sponsorship group is already bringing in a family from Syria, who will be arriving in the Comox Valley on Oct. 6. “There is a lot of interest in the Comox Valley around this issue,” said Kishi. “There has been a number of other refugee crisis in the world that the Comox Valley has opened its doors to welcome people.” Cumberland council is also supporting an emergency resolution recently passed by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to form a task force of local governments across Canada to try to help out with the process.
The Victoria mayors recommended three ways for residents to participate in the private sponsorship of refugees. 1. Through an organization that is a Sponsorship Agreement Holder with the Canadian government. In Victoria, there are two groups - the Anglican Diocese of BC and the Inter-Cultural Association. There are more than 80 SAH’s across Canada. 2. Through a local community group that is not an agreement holder (up to two refugee families per year, and requires an application by a group). 3. Through Groups of Five - any five Canadian citizens or permanent residents can come together to apply to sponsor one family. Sponsorship involves going through the application process for the refugee family, raising funds - about $30,000 for a family of four, enough to support them for a year - and assisting in the resettlement. “There are ways that perhaps this council, residents of Cumberland, residents of Comox Valley can do something concrete,” said Kishi. “It doesn’t have to be something huge. (Continued on page 6)
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