Refugees #3

The Conservative government has just announced their revised plans to speed up the process in accepting Syrian refugees into Canada. They are prepared to commit more money (which means more staff) to working on the processing of applications. They have also committed more actual dollars, matched to Canadian's private contributions, to support refugees in their daily needs while they are waiting for a resolution to their private and national crisis.

Good for them. One can't help, regardless of the obvious crassness of the political timing, feeling that finally Canada is doing something useful. I must confess however, to being more than slightly uncomfortable cheering for the Conservatives' sudden change in their position. Part of that is a somewhat immature reaction to anything that the Conservatives do - but my reluctance to cheer is also because I am not too sure if it is the right decision -I am not at all convinced that bringing in 10,000 to 15,000 Syrian refugees does anything to resolve the issues that need to be resolved in that part of the world. Yes - for those refugees who do get to come to Canada - their lives will be immeasurably improved in terms of their personal safety and stability, they will have access to some opportunities that in all likelihood they would not have had in their homes. And yes, Canadians will be able to lift their heads up high and in the narrowness of their little world, will be able to say "see Canada is still a country that cares - we did our part" - as if anyone else in the big world outside of our borders really cares. But as I have written before - it is far too little and far too late (see my blogs for September 9/15, May 17/15, February 8/14).

As I look at the heart wrenching images of refugees desperately attempting to breach the borders of small eastern European countries, those countries who have no more capacity to support the thousands demanding help than does Syria, I wonder where the refugees think they will get to. What promised land are they struggling to reach? How is it that they can imagine that the resources of even the richest of the European countries can be stretched to help all those who need so desperately to be helped? One has to wonder what absurd propaganda about the glories of the west have they been reading to believe that the answer to all of their problems is just across the next border. We have done a disservice to the world if we have taught that democracy is a guaranteed path to prosperity.

In the short term those refugees who do manage to get to a country and get accepted by that country as "legitimate' refugees will have their most basic needs looked after. They will be offered a range of supports that will facilitate at least in part, some sort of integration into their new country. But if one looks at the record of almost any country (including Canada) of how successful refugees have been in becoming full participants in the economic growth of the country, it is depressing reading. It seems as if many cities in Europe already have well established ghettoes. Ghettoes where legal and illegal immigrants live, struggling to survive; where frustration about the lack of opportunities can ferment - causing resentment and anger. It is not enough just to take in people. It seems all too often that countries like Canada do the "right thing" in opening their doors, but we do not develop the 20 year plan that is required to ensure that the children who come Canada have the level of support that they will need. It is great that we want to help, but what jobs can we offer? Is there really a possibility that those 10,000 to 15,000 individuals will have access to the jobs, the houses or the lifestyles that we all see as being available (at least according to the entertainment media)? Or is it more likely that those individuals will, regardless of their skills or education, will be reduced to the endless drudgery of working two part time jobs in unrewarding jobs? Will they have no choice but to live in ghettoes that are over-crowded with people, but that lack any of the necessary infrastructures needed to make a community thrive.  

I think we need to engage in two separate types of activities if we wish to be perceived as a country has not only cares, but as the capacity to create change. One we need to take in refugees - but not with just with some front end funding that will last for a year or until the next world crisis re-directs our thoughts. There needs to be recognition that integration is difficult and that communities will need ongoing support. For example some schools and community centers will need new money, different resources. It is unfair for those communities to have to decide which programs they will cut so that they can develop new programs to support the new Canadians. Employers will need encouragement (bribes?) to hire not just labourers working for minimum wage, but people who can contribute to and grow with the company. And they need to do so in such a way that present employees are not disadvantaged. This is complicated business - but we need to be talking about it. It is quite wonderful to assume that each community has the capacity to make these changes without government support - it is just not true.

The second strategy to resolve this crisis is to "fix" the problem in Syria. It is not a matter of whether or not the rest of the world can or should take in the four million refugees - the real question is why are so many people fleeing their country? I am not sure if any one person has that solution. But it would seem to me well past time when people need to start to have this conversation in a very public way. I have limited faith in the ability of the world's senior politicians to even start a meaningful dialogue - never mind come up with possible solutions.