City to host open house on refugee efforts

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This article was published 17/09/2015 (3456 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CITY hall is throwing its weight behind community efforts to get involved in the Syrian refugee crisis.

The city will host an open house within 30 days for community groups involved in refugee settlements.

“Winnipeggers have been watching the news unfold with regards to the Syrian refugee crisis, clearly one of the most significant similar crises since the Second World War and a very serious issue confronting the world,” Mayor Brian Bowman said following Wednesday’s executive policy committee meeting. “We can point fingers at other levels of government but what we’ve chosen to do is look at what we can do as a city to support the effort of those who want to move to our great city.”

Bowman’s EPC also wants a report from the administration within 30 days outlining the city’s current refugee resettlement assistance efforts.

“Let’s hear from our public service about what (civic) efforts are currently underway so we can assess whether they are appropriate or not and whether they do enough.”

Plans for the open house must be approved by council, which is meeting Sept. 30.

Bowman said St. Vital Coun. Brian Mayes will take charge of the open house project, bringing together the various local non-profit groups involved in refugee resettlement, and other government agencies.

Bowman said he hopes the open house will provide information to Winnipeggers on how they can personally help.

“If Winnipeggers want to sponsor a family, let’s get everybody in the room and allow for that information to be easily made available to Winnipeggers who do want to help,” he said.

“There are a lot of groups in Winnipeg doing really good work and have been doing that work for some time… We want to make sure we’re providing (Winnipeggers) with access to those organizations and other levels of government that may want to join us to provide as much information as possible.”

 

— Aldo Santin