Federal Immigration Minister Chris Alexander suspended his re-election campaign this week in the wake of the Canadian family connections to the toddler and resulting outrage. He has since vowed to improve the refugee approval system.
The desperate situation has caught the world’s attention, and Premier Brad Wall and provincial Immigration, Skills, Jobs and Training Minister Jeremy Harrison agree more must be done.
“As a people and a government, Saskatchewan will do its part for those fleeing war and tyranny for safe asylum,” Wall posted on Facebook on Friday.
In an interview, Harrison said a letter was sent to the federal government in early August asking the federal government to increase Saskatchewan’s allotment of refugees by 15 per cent. The federal government has yet to respond, said Harrison.