Canadian connection to chilling photo of Syrian boy hits the campaign trail

OTTAWA (NEWS 1130) – Emotions are running high on the campaign trail after news the two Syrian boys and mother who drowned near Turkey had attempted to come to Canada, but their refugee application was rejected.

NDP candidate Fin Donnelly says he had hand-delivered a letter to the immigration minister in March from the boy’s aunt in Coquitlam, who wanted to sponsor the family.

Party leaders have been getting emotional as the immigration minister investigates the reports.

The image of the lifeless body of young Alan Kurdi has chilled people around the world, including NDP leader Thomas Mulcair, who became emotional as he discussed the tragic story.

“As a dad and a grandfather, it’s just unbearable,” said Mulcair, who at times was choked with emotion as he called this migrant crisis a failure for Canada and the international community.

“The older brother could have been going to school next week in Canada,” he added.

Mulcair says we need to see immediate action.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper says the picture of a dead boy on a Turkish beach is heartbreaking.

He’s insisting Islamic militants are the root cause of the suffering in Syria and Iraq.

Harper also says Canada must stay the course, both militarily and by providing humanitarian aid to those affected by the continuing violence.

The PM spoke after he postponed a campaign announcement and cancelled a photo op as Europe’s refugee crisis overshadowed campaigning for the federal election.

Immigration Minister Chris Alexander is in Ottawa to meet with officials to get the facts about the Kurdi case and an update on the migrant crisis.

Liberal leader Justin Trudeau remains critical of the response. “You don’t get to suddenly discover compassion in the middle of an election campaign. You either have it or you don’t.”

So far, Canada has accepted 2,300 Syrian refugees, but Trudeau is calling on the government to immediately accept 25,000.