Syrian refugees: Quebec describes federal timeline as 'unrealistic'

Municipal Affairs Minister Pierre Moreau has shot down afederal government timetablethat would see25,000 Syrian refugees arrive in Canadaby Dec. 31.

• MAP |These are the cities in Quebec that could take in refugees
• Denis Coderre and Rgis Labeaumediffer on Syrian refugee file

Moreau, speaking to reporters in Quebec City Tuesday, said preparing for the influx requires too much preparation to complete the work by the end of the year.

The province plans tosend 2,400 requests to sponsor Syrian immigrantsto Ottawa for evaluation on Dec. 18.

Medical checks and other verifications will then be conducted by embassies abroad, which will make it logistically impossible for the newcomers to arrive by the end of the year, he noted.

The province is also still making arrangementswith 13 of the province's 1,133 municipalities deemed potentially able to provide the housing, schools and other services the refugees will require.

Moreau saysthe province has no intention of forcing any municipality to welcome the Syrians.

Quebec represents 23 per cent of Canada's total population and has agreed to accept its proportion of the 25,000 immigrants as well as 3,300 more.

Quebec Immigration Minister KathleenWeilhas said that the government isawaiting details from her federal counterpart,JohnMcCallum, who will outline the plan to bring the promised 25,000 refugees to Canada.

Emergency debate in National Assembly

Parti QubcoisLeader Pierre Karl Pladeau called for an emergencydebate Monday and that request was granted Tuesday afternoon.

During the debate,PQ immigration critic Maka Kottosaidhis party iscommittedto welcoming refugees, but underscored the need to twin that compassion withrespect for security.

"Quebec's response to terrorism must be generosity and sharing, but we have to do things right and ensure the security of Quebecers," he said.

He said the government's plans for welcoming the Syrians was "opaque"and needed to be clarified in order to reassure Quebecers.

"The [lack of transparency] is causing worry and that can lead to mistrust and even to tensions," he said.

Couillardsaid his government is making every effort to share the information it receives from the federal government.

2 categories of refugees

Quebec has committed to accepting just over 5,700 refugees through private and government sponsorships.

The province has received 694 applications to privatelysponsor Syrian refugees as of Sept. 30 and is still evaluatinganother 2,400 demands. If approved, the files will then be sent to the federal government for finalapproval.

• Paris attacks polarize Canadians on refugee resettlement plan
• Syrian refugees shouldn't be feared, says immigration expert

The second category, state sponsored refugees, involves peoplefrom refugee camps overseen by theUnited NationsHigh Commissioner of Refugees.

"These are women and children in a really badstate and extremely vulnerable.Canada decides to bring those people over," Weil told CBC Montreal'sDaybreak Tuesday.

Weil said she hasbeen in contact withofficials in 13 Quebec municipalities tobe involved in the nuts and bolts of the settlement, arranging lodging and schooling for the newcomers.

Shesaid that she has also met plenty ofpreviously-settled Syrian refugees to Quebec and was impressed.

"The are delighted to be in a paradise where they feel safe," said Weil. "They aretrying to avoid the horrific acts like we saw Friday night in Paris."

Applicants carefully scrutinized