WINNIPEG -- An emergency planning centre normally used during spring floods will organize support programs for Syrian refugees coming to Manitoba.
The government announced its plans Thursday to help between 1,500 and 2,000 Syrian refugees anticipated by the end of February -- its share of the national program.
Manitoba's emergency co-ordination centre, used to forecast, track and fight flooding, will serve as a nerve centre for the refugee response. Officials from several government departments will work together to ensure refugees have housing, health services, job opportunities and more when they arrive, Premier Greg Selinger said.
Many of the refugees will be privately sponsored, which means they will have housing and support already provided by family members or non-profit groups. For others, the province is seeking landlords with available rental units, which will be paid for by the federal government for one year.
"Our sense is that there are many landlords out there with capacity that are ready and willing to open up space to newcomers," said Ben Rempel, assistant deputy minister of immigration.
"Our job right now is to identify them (and) develop a registry of available housing."
The province is also setting up a website and toll-free telephone line with the Red Cross, as of next week, for anybody who wants to help with donations.
Selinger set aside $1.4 million in September for refugee support, and says that should be enough to handle the number of refugees anticipated.
