The time is right to reconsider our actions in Syria

I attended an information session in Sudbury on Oct. 28 at Tom Davies Square and was moved by the outpouring of community support for taking on sponsorships of Syrian refugees.

My concern is that, even though our prime minister has taken a much more humane approach to the refugee crisis, the death toll among fleeing refugees continues.

Watching the stream of humanity winding its way through Europe is akin to watching the Hunger Games, as these millions of refugees are those who have survived the treacherous journey that will only become harder as winter sets in.

I am writing on behalf of those Syrian civilians who are caught in the crossfire in Syria and will surely become part of the casualties if they try to leave.

Although there is a family settlement program available, any family member still in Syria can only be considered a displaced person, not a refugee and is, therefore, currently unable to access the resettlement program.

Members of one prominent Syrian family in Sudbury pleaded with us to find the means to help their relatives still within the borders of Syria desperate to leave but scared for their lives to do so. As the conflict within Syria has intensified in the past few weeks, with the addition of Russian bombers, there is also a ray of hope that a political solution might eventually be found through talks begun in Vienna.

However, given the complexity of the involvement of so many countries, coming to terms will take some time.

Meanwhile, rather than help only the survivors, I would exhort Justin Trudeau to reinstate Canada as a peacekeeper, a historic role that Canada has played many times in the past. With his leadership, Canada could urge the United Nations and the European Union to join with Canada to provide a safe corridor out of the country or set up a targeted no-fly zone or aerial exclusion zone for Syrian civilians seeking asylum.

This would permit those in the country who wish to leave, a safe means going to a refugee camp outside of Syria where they can claim refugee status. Then, they can be processed and all the security checks made. I know that this action seems counterintuitive when the world already has more than enough refugees to go around. But, again, if we value human lives, do we wish to wait and only help the survivors of the “Refugee Games”?

While Stephen Harper fed our fear of terrorism, let us seek to help the innocent victims of war and give them a chance at life and reunion with their families. The action website AVAAZ has a petition to sign; you can contact the new Liberal MP Paul Lefebvre ([email protected]) or direct a letter to PM Justin Trudeau.

This is the time to act while our newly elected government is reconsidering our country’s actions in Syria.

Elaine Porter
On behalf of the Sudbury Chapter of the Council of Canadians