Refugee crisis should be election issue: Thunder Bay organizer

The local organizer behind the Refugees Welcome rally Mondaynight in Thunder Bay says she's looking for more help to assist those seeking safe havens and wants to put the onus on politicians to act.

Liane Boyer-McLean said she wants to find otherlocal residents who might be interested in sponsoring a family from war-ravaged areas such as Syria.

For the organizer, the refugee crisis overseas should remain at the forefront of discussions during the election campaign. She said she'd like to see Canadians put pressureon politicians to help people in need, as partiesvie for votes ahead of the Oct. 19 election.

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"I think it speaks to the values of our country, and that's always an election issue," Boyer-McLean said.

The organizer added she believes other countries have stepped up while Canada has taken a back seat in addressing theinflux of asylum-seekers trying to escape conflict.

"You want a government that is going to reflect your valuesand the things that are important to you and I think what people in Canada are saying is that this is important to us," she added.

The Thunder Bay'Refugees Welcome' event was planned after international attention was drawn last week to the plight of Syrian refugees.

Boyer-McLean said her own family history inspired her to act.She said when she was a child her family sponsored two students from southeast Asia.

"They're amazing people. We've stayed in contact. They've grown up and are successful members of our society and have their own kids," she said.

Boyer-McLeansaid helping them was the right thing to do all those years ago, and that the right thing to do now is help refugees from Syria.

"These people need our help. Not everyone is able to provide help but those of us who are, I feel we have an obligation to do what we can."