Canada's new Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, John McCallum, has announced the creation of a government ad hoc committee that will help coordinate the imminent arrival of thousands of Syrian refugees in Canada.

The nine-member committee holds its first meeting today, November 10, 2015. Its primary task is to deliver on Canada’s commitment to settle 25,000 government-sponsored refugees before the end of 2015.

“Canadians can and must do more to help Syrian refugees who are desperately seeking safety. The new Cabinet ad hoc committee is our first step towards Canada providing more Syrian refugees with the safe haven they so desperately need. This is about showing leadership and doing what is right as Canadians,” said Mr McCallum.

“We have a responsibility to significantly expand our refugee targets and give more victims of war a safe haven in Canada. People from coast to coast to coast and representatives from all orders of government have stepped up to help address the Syrian refugee crisis. We will be looking for close collaboration in the days to come to help make a home for the victims of this tragedy.”

The Government of Canada, which was sworn into office less than one week ago, has made the following commitments related to refugees:

• expand Canada’s intake of refugees from Syria by 25,000 through immediate government sponsorship, and also work with private sponsors to accept even more;
• fully restore the Interim Federal Health Program that provides limited and temporary health benefits to refugees and refugee claimants;
• invest at least an additional $100 million this fiscal year to increase – without reducing standards – refugee processing as well as sponsorship and settlement services capacity in Canada; and
• provide an immediate, new $100 million contribution to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to support the critical relief activities in Syria and the surrounding area.

The ad hoc committee includes the following members:

• The Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Health, Chair;
• The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, Vice-Chair;
• The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness;
• The Honourable Stéphane Dion, Minister of Foreign Affairs;
• The Honourable John McCallum, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship;
• The Honourable Scott Brison, President of the Treasury Board;
• The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie;
• The Honourable Harjit Singh Sajjan, Minister of National Defence; and
• The Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of Democratic Institutions.