Settled Syrian refugees can now identify family for sponsorship by Canadian groups

The Canadian government is launching a new program to help Syrians inCanada bring in family who have also fled the war-torn country.

The Syrian Family Links initiative lets Syrians in Canada identifyfamily who are refugees in Lebanon, Jordan or Turkey. Those family members can then be connectedwith groups in Canada who are looking for someone to sponsor.

Canadian officials say refugees tend to integrate more quickly whenthey are privately sponsored rather government sponsored.

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Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada said Wednesday that 15,685 Syrian refugees have landedinCanada to date. Of those, 5,468are privately sponsored, 9,088 are government sponsored and1,129 came through a program where they are referred by a visa officer.

Officials emphasize they are not "matching" sponsors to Syrianfamilies abroad. They will simply provide a list of refugees topotential sponsors. Those refugees would still have to be approved forentry into Canada by the federal government. The family members andpotential sponsors would then be responsible for discussing the terms ofthe sponsorship.

Hundreds of Syrian Canadian families have expressed interest,government officials say.

McCallum said Syrian Family Links was launched about a week or so ago, andso far 157 refugee families have been identified. Five Canadiansponsors have signed up and McCallum hopes many more willjoin.

Housing still an issue

McCallum says finding affordable housing for new arrivals continues tobe an issue. Some communities have even asked for a temporary halt inthe flow of refugees.

"It's significant but it's manageable," McCallum told reportersWednesday.

He said he's meeting with representatives from the real estateindustry soon to get suggestions and seek assistance.

McCallum added that military bases in Kingston, Ont. and Valcartier, Que. remain available to house refugees if needed,something he said couldhappen before the end of the month.