Chatham-Kent Mayor Randy Hope testified Tuesday that he sees the current issue of refugees facing Parliament as one of opportunity rather than a crisis.
Mayor Hope was invited to testify via Skype video link before The House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration. He joined Ontario Immigration Minister Lisa McLeod, Saskatchewan Immigration Minister Jeremy Harrison and MPs, Adam Vaughn and Charles MacArthur.
During his testimony, Mayor Hope noted that the local community has always welcomed those fleeing persecution whether they be slaves arriving via the Underground Railroad, immigrants at the turn of the 20th Century, refugees fleeing the aftermath of the Second World War or more recently, the 75 Syrian refugees who now call Chatham-Kent home.
“We need people, particularly skilled individuals who can fill job needs in the community,” he said.
He called on senior levels of government to help assist municipalities who want to take refugees and urged the federal government to streamline a “clogged system” in which it can take two years for a refugee claim to be heard.
It’s not a crisis, it’s an opportunity for us,” he said.
The committee has scheduled more meetings next week before it can prepare a report for Parliament.
