(MENAFN- Jordan News Agency) Canada plans to resettle 10,000 Syrian refugees by September 2016, 15 months ahead of a previously determined schedule, Immigration Minister Chris Alexander said late Saturday.
The minister also stressed Canada's existing commitment to resettle 23,000 Iraqis will also be met by the end of this year.
The Canadian government is removing the United Nations refugee documentation requirement, doubling the size of its Winnipeg, Manitoba, application-processing office, and sending more immigration officers overseas in a resettlement plan costing C$25 million ($18.9 million).
The government would deploy additional officers to missions abroad and that applications from Syrians and Iraqis will be handled within six months of being filed, he added.
"Some of our officers have already reached the missions that are most involved in the resettlement efforts," he further explained. "We will have more human resources hitting the ground in the coming days and weeks."
We will move quickly and above all responsibly security screening will remain the top priority," he added.
"We did not make up this plan on the back of a napkin or pull it out of thin air. We looked carefully at our capacity. We looked carefully at the steps and procedures to keep Canada and Canadians safe," he stressed.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.