Estimated 300 Syrian refugees to arrive in N.B. before Christmas

There willbe an estimated 300 refugees arriving in the province before Christmas, according to Francine Landry, the province's post-secondary education training and labour minister.

Landry saidtherefugees are coming in two waves, with at least 1,500 expected in New Brunswick, or more.

"We can look at more if we have great success with the first 1,500," Landry said, adding the government is working with settlement organizations throughout the province to get ready for the newcomers.

Landrysays as the refugees arrive, they will be assessed and then settled into communities in groups of 10 families, which will help to reduce their sense of isolation.

Although they will be going to Moncton, Saint John and Fredericton at first, she said, the government will"wantthem also allaround New Brunswick in the rural communities, as well as the bigger cities,"as long as the supports are in place.

There is a committee working within government to make sure the refugees will have access to doctors to see to their physical and mental health needs when they arrive, saidLandry, but there are still someunknowns at thispoint.

"They will not be coming, the 1,500, all the same day, all at once," she said.

"We have a few weeks to welcome the first that are coming in, and then a few more weeks to get ready for the rest."

Landry says she believes the newcomers will settle quickly and become self-sufficient.

"They're educated, some of them have money, so we don't expect them not to be self-sufficient. And then there aresome that are struggling [that] we'll help."

Landry's post-secondary education,training and labour department also includes the population growth secretariat. She has been the lead cabinet minister on the Syrian refugee resettlement effort.

She saysjobs will not be difficult for the newcomers to find, because there are at least 2,500 jobs availableon the government's jobswebsite on any given day. Landrysays she's also been hearing from employers.

"There are companies telling me they are restrainingtheirexpansion because they cannot find workers," she said.

The first year of resettlement is the financial responsibility of the federal government, and according to Landry, if some people need help beyond that timeframe, she can go back and negotiate for moremoney.

"We will give themall the support they need to make this a success story," she says.