Fredericton Mayor Brad Woodside says he has asked Ottawa for a temporary break on the arrival of Syrian refugees.
Speaking to city council Monday night, Woodside says volunteers need a break and the city would be overwhelmed if more newcomers arrived within a short timeframe.
Federal Immigration Minister John McCallum says he will be able to slow down newcomer arrivals in Fredericton.
“There are many other places who really want the refugees so if Fredericton can’t take them, we'll find other places,” said McCallum.
Lisa Bamford de Gante, executive director of the Multicultural Association of Fredericton, says the numbers are constantly changing and there may be a misunderstanding about how many refugees are scheduled to arrive and when.
“(Woodside) was speaking with the understanding that there were 200 more arriving in a short period of time, which isn't our understanding at this time,” said Bamford de Gante.
Bamford de Gante says refugee families that have arrived in Fredericton are for the most part settled.
“Everyone is in their permanent accommodations or will be by the end of the week,” she said.
There are currently about 1,250 Syrian refugees living between Fredericton, Saint John and Moncton. Several rural areas have been waiting for their first arrivals.
There's no word on how long Ottawa will delay any further new arrivals to the New Brunswick capital.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Nick Moore.
