Re: Syrian refugees

Pamela Giroux | Mar 31, 2016

Recently the News has printed two letters with negative reactions to the influx of Syrian refugees to our country. While I can sympathize with Ms. Layfield’s frustration (Letters, Re: Syrian refugee fundraiser, Feb 11/16) at being on a waiting list for housing, she has not been living in a tent for years in a war torn country. The other lady (Letters, Re: Syrian refugee fundraiser, Mar 3/16) says she feels sorry for the Syrian refugees and to quote her “any one of us with a heart agrees these people need help”. At this point her letter switches into a negative rant toward our government. First off #1 she states ”leaders are putting our country in severe distress even putting our country in peril”. Well those are mighty strong words and what pray tell does she have to show us as concrete evidence that this statement is true? #2 She finds it disgusting that “Canadian soldiers are homeless here now.” If this is a true fact then we can blame the Harper government for that. #3 She states that” a working family needs $100,000 a year to pay for renovations and 80% of Canadians do not have all brand new furnishings in their homes” Where does she get these statistics from? Did she pick these numbers out of a hat? #4 She goes on to say she believes Syrian refugees need to be made comfortable here but then states ”They shouldn’t get $6000 double oven stoves or $4000 chesterfields”. Who told her Syrian refugees would be receiving such luxuries and where did she get these numbers from? She has nothing to back up such statements that are given as facts.

At the end Ms. Akey reveals her true colours when she states “I believe our country is on the brink of a severe depression, and we should know who to thank for that.” So in other words, according to Ms. Akey, if we help the Syrian refugees come to this country to start a new life of freedom we risk bringing down a terrible depression on our country. Balderdash!! Canada let in thousands of Vietnamese boat people when they were in crisis and our country thrived because of it. We are our brother’s keeper. It is the humanitarian way and our government is leading the way among the nations of the Western world. O Canada we stand on guard for thee.

Proud to be Canadian