CANADA's three main parties indulged in a curious game of one-upmanship during final year’s general election campaign. Each boasted that if they were elected they would bring in much numbers of Syrian refugees. The Conservatives pledged 10000 over three years. The current Democrats said they would take in 10000 by the end of the year and 9000 annually after that. Both were trumped by the Liberal promise of 25000 by January 1st. The Liberals won and hit their target on February 27th. This was two months late and they were only able to fulfill their promise because individual Canadians stepped forward to sponsor 11000 of the total 26166 Syrians who arrived after the current government took office on November 4th.
Private sponsorship of refugees began in Canada in 1978 amid another refugee crisis: the Indochinese fleeing from Vietnam after the war. Media coverage of desperate "boat people" helped overcome a public reluctance to deal with what was initially regarded as an American problem. After Thailand,Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore said they could take no more people, or Canada agreed to welcome 60000 over three years,as long as...
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Source: economist.com