Fort St. John’s mayor responds to controversial refugee petition
Posted November 20, 2015 9:27 pm.
Last Updated November 20, 2015 9:31 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
FORT ST. JOHN (NEWS 1130) – An online petition launched by a Fort St. John woman calling for a referendum on whether Canada should open its doors has gathered over 1,500 signatures in less than a week.
The mayor admits people in her community are feeling leery about bringing in newcomers.
Lori Ackerman says given that a lot of the details about resettlement have yet to be made public, a lack of information is creating anxiety.
“There is fear of terrorism that happened in Paris. The other fear is related to the fact that Fort St. John is growing very rapidly. Our social services, our schools, our health care are already stretched beyond capacity.”
Ackerman also points out her city is not equipped to deal with people experiencing trauma.
But, she says contrary to what the petition may suggest, her city is very diverse, with 30 different cultures, and that people are prepared to accept refugees.
“We may have non-profit organizations here stepping up to the plate. I’ve already had queries asking me if I knew where people could go to sponsor refugee families.”
Premier Christy Clark has suggested the north is an ideal place for the refugees, because of its low unemployment rate and apparently cheap housing.
Ackerman agrees to a point, but stresses life up north is good for those who are highly-skilled, noting how high incomes are for northerners.
But she admits the climate is much colder than in southern BC, and that public transit is not as extensive as it is in the Lower Mainland.
