8-Wing CFB Trenton is no longer on standby to accept Syrian refugees.
Canada’s largest airbase had been in line after CFB Valcartier, Bordon and Kingston as a possible location for government assisted refugees.
Quinte Immigration Services executive director Orlando Ferro tells Quinte News he has been informed personnel at the base are no longer on alert to host refugees in the foreseeable future. He says Valcartier is welcoming newcomers, Bordon is ready and Kingston is acting as a back up for refugees arriving in Quebec, so the base Trenton is not needed at this time.
Earlier in the day Immigration Minister John McCallum announced he’s confident Canada will have accepted 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end of February adding the challenge has been finding them housing.
McCallum says at some point, the government will likely need to house refugees on military bases.
Ferro says after his discussions with the Department Immigration Refugees Citizenship Wednesday there could be a call for more government assisted refugees in the near future.
He says they are putting in proposals for a temporary centre to help house government assisted refugees until the crisis is over.
QIS is still looking for people that have houses available that they want to rent.
Ferro says they are still creating and updating their inventory and expect that those houses will be used once they get all the people situated in the community.
If you have a home available contact QIS at (613) 968-7723.
Of the 15,157 Syrians that landed between November 4, 2015 and January 31, 2016 most are coming out of Jordan. 8,767 were government-assisted, 5,341 were privately sponsored and 1,049 are part of a program that combines the two.
