Icelanders offer their homes, help for Syrian refugees

[automaton 3]

These people had sponsors in Canada. They were caught up in red tape and now 3 of them are dead. That poor man's family all died in his arms. Apparently the life jackets they had were fake. So tragic and senseless.

I have a son that age, that picture really got to me.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by automaton 3

These people had sponsors in Canada. They were caught up in red tape and now 3 of them are dead. That poor man's family all died in his arms. Apparently the life jackets they had were fake. So tragic and senseless.

I have a son that age, that picture really got to me.

Yeah, if they had family here and were going to be taken care of, their status should have been expedited IMO. Unless something came up in a background check on the parents, but even then they could have taken the kids out.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by blankall

The could table a bill in the house and force the conservatives to put their money where their mouth is.

Parliament isn't session now. Pretty sure only the PM or the Conservatives could get it back in place.

[manwiches]

Originally Posted by oilyfan

Heartbreaking picture being tweeted around the world of a dead Syrian toddler washed up on the shores of Turkey. I can't even bear to post the link. It is a devastating indictment of humanity.

That one, and the other one of the worker carrying him, brought me to tears. Being a father to a 1 and a half year old, I cannot even begin to think of what this little boy went through by himself. I will be holding my son when I get home for a long time.

[firebug]

Originally Posted by manwiches

That one, and the other one of the worker carrying him, brought me to tears. Being a father to a 1 and a half year old, I cannot even begin to think of what this little boy went through by himself. I will be holding my son when I get home for a long time.

It's been determined that the boy and his family were denied refugee status by Canada earlier this year.

They were sponsored by his uncle and aunt who live in BC.

Warning: Picture included in linked article
http://news.nationalpost.com/news/ca...ee-application

Tragic picture, but frankly one that everybody should see...

[OMG!WTF!]

Originally Posted by firebug

It's been determined that the boy and his family were denied refugee status by Canada earlier this year.

They were sponsored by his uncle and aunt who live in BC.

Warning: Picture included in linked article
http://news.nationalpost.com/news/ca...ee-application

Tragic picture, but frankly one that everybody should see...

Immigration Canada said it did not receive an application from that family...

http://globalnews.ca/news/2200956/b-...ed-off-turkey/

I'd like to hear what the guy who "hand delivered" the application in June has to say about that.

Whatever the case is, Syrians have been getting blown to smithereens for years. There's about a million videos of Assadists blowing up Syrians, FSA blowing up Syrians and ISIS blowing up Syrians. It must look odd from that point of view that one sad picture finally gets our attention. It's probably a media issue rather than an ignorant American issue. And it's great that people are upset and want to help. Just an odd perspective if you've been living that nightmare. Making it an election issue is even grosser.

I also wonder if doing something militarily is something people are more interested in now.

[fulham]

They were refugee's who had escaped a War zone, and were currently in a Safe war free country in Turkey.

Once they decided to board another boat to illegally reach a EU nation(for welfare benefits)
Did they not then become Economic illegal Migrants?

Not too sound callous but they were in a safe country, and decided that being safe from war wasn't enough.

[RubberDuck]

Canada says it never denied a refugee application for Alan Kurdi and his family

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/ca...ee-application

Abdullah’s sister, Tima, said she was planning to sponsor Abdullah’s family but had not yet applied.

But she clarified at a press conference Thursday that had not formally begun the process to sponsor Abdullah, his wife and two sons. She said she was first dealing sponsoring her older brother, Mohammad.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by OMG!WTF!

Immigration Canada said it did not receive an application from that family...

http://globalnews.ca/news/2200956/b-...ed-off-turkey/

I'd like to hear what the guy who "hand delivered" the application in June has to say about that.

Maybe it is the cynic in me, but I do get the impression that there is some media dog wagging going on here. First the photo comes out that will help the pro-military intervention cause by evoking strong emotions, then the anti-war people use it as a way to instead promote helping refugees. Now there is a story about Canadian forces killing 27 civilians in Iraq and playing off the need to investigate helping the anti-war side. The timing of the stories is probably a coincidence, but it seems really convenient.

As much as we want the election to be about domestic issues, the Syrian/ISIS situation is going to end up playing a big part, as well as how the media reports and spins things.

[OMG!WTF!]

Originally Posted by fulham

They were refugee's who had escaped a War zone, and were currently in a Safe war free country in Turkey.

Once they decided to board another boat to illegally reach a EU nation(for welfare benefits)
Did they not then become Economic illegal Migrants?

Not too sound callous but they were in a safe country, and decided that being safe from war wasn't enough.

Not really. Turkey was their first country and as such it has obligations. From what I understand they didn't provide the proper information or Turkey was too overwhelmed so it would not provide them with exit visas. Basically, the country you land in has to make sure you're a legitimate refugee. Canada would not have been able to accept them based on that criteria. By getting a little further west, they could apply to the UN for the proper documentation.

It's very well and good to say you're going to open your home to 10,000 people tomorrow but the reality isn't that simple. I guarantee you without any documentation, that 10, 000 person group will include some ISIS dropouts, as well as Assadist and FSA war criminals.

That's why it disgusts me when Mulcair says we're doing nothing and he'd allow 10k people in immediately. Suggesting that the boy who downed could have been starting school in Canada this week could be matched with the guy who was hucking barrel bombs out of a helicopter last week could be delivering your pizza this week. I'd be interested in Justin's answer to that very real situation as PM.

[Hammertime]

Now that the story is unfolding, I'm upset that a dead child is being used as a political weapon. Sickening..

[Peanut]

The politicizing is gross. But politics are always gross.

I still think sponsoring a family is worthwhile regardless of what Harper and cronies are doing. Thanks to those earlier in the thread for providing those links. I'll be looking into setting up a Group of 5 (or more) and hopefully I can make something happen for a family.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Maybe it is the cynic in me, but I do get the impression that there is some media dog wagging going on here. First the photo comes out that will help the pro-military intervention cause by evoking strong emotions, then the anti-war people use it as a way to instead promote helping refugees. Now there is a story about Canadian forces killing 27 civilians in Iraq and playing off the need to investigate helping the anti-war side. The timing of the stories is probably a coincidence, but it seems really convenient.

As much as we want the election to be about domestic issues, the Syrian/ISIS situation is going to end up playing a big part, as well as how the media reports and spins things.

We have an election coming up. People are exploiting these tragedies to help their side win.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Hammertime

Now that the story is unfolding, I'm upset that a dead child is being used as a political weapon. Sickening..

Same thing happened with Sandy Hook. And you are correct, this is sickening.

[Quincy Egg]

The real question is WHY don't some of the wealthy arab nations take in some of these migrants? Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia can surely handle these people, why must they come to Europe (and hopefully not Canada).

Not to mention ISRAEL should take on some of them as well but that will never happen.

Stop putting the burden on us!

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Quincy Egg

The real question is WHY don't some of the wealthy arab nations take in some of these migrants? Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia can surely handle these people, why must they come to Europe (and hopefully not Canada).

Not to mention ISRAEL should take on some of them as well but that will never happen.

Stop putting the burden on us!

I guess the simple answer is: As a refugee, would you rather seek refuge in Pakistan (who takes in a lot of refugees) or Germany/Canada?

I'm sure Qatar has been taking in SOME refugees to replace the slaves that are dying building their world cup stadiums. Dead slaves don't build fancy stadiums.

[peter12]

Putting aside the obviously gut-wrenching nature of the photograph, what is supposed to be the response of the Canadian government? We have accepted 5,000 resettled Syrian refugees, and over 20,000 Iraqi refugees. There are processes to follow, and everyone, in the moment forgets that in the effort to competitively bleat about how compassionate they want everyone else to be.

I could see a small increase in the overall numbers, but we can't have an open-door policy.

[Quincy Egg]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I guess the simple answer is: As a refugee, would you rather seek refuge in Pakistan (who takes in a lot of refugees) or Germany/Canada?

I'm sure Qatar has been taking in SOME refugees to replace the slaves that are dying building their world cup stadiums. Dead slaves don't build fancy stadiums.

If you're fleeing from war you don't get the right to be picky. Our system is already overburdened from entitlements

[Canuck-Hater]

Originally Posted by Quincy Egg

The real question is WHY don't some of the wealthy arab nations take in some of these migrants? Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia can surely handle these people, why must they come to Europe (and hopefully not Canada).

Not to mention ISRAEL should take on some of them as well but that will never happen.

Stop putting the burden on us!

Why flee a nation ravaged by war to seek refuge in an equally oppressive regime? This isn't a logical reason to NOT accept refugees.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Quincy Egg

The real question is WHY don't some of the wealthy arab nations take in some of these migrants? Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia can surely handle these people, why must they come to Europe (and hopefully not Canada).

Not to mention ISRAEL should take on some of them as well but that will never happen.

Stop putting the burden on us!

Originally Posted by Quincy Egg

If you're fleeing from war you don't get the right to be picky. Our system is already overburdened from entitlements

Empathy