OTTAWA — Pressure is mounting on the federal government to ease paperwork barriers and boost resources to help Syrian refugees settle in Canada.
Refugee and human-rights advocates say Canada could waive documentation requirements and bring in flexible measures — such as temporary resident permits and work visas — to speed up the process.
Millions have fled war-ravaged Syria since 2011.
But fewer than 2,400 Syrians have been resettled in Canada over the last two years.
The call to do more comes amid global shock over the drowning deaths of two young Syrian boys and their mother, who apparently wanted to join family in British Columbia.
Furio de Angelis, the United Nations official representative in Ottawa on refugee issues, says the UN expects all countries — including Canada — to step up efforts.
