ATLANTIC

N.S. confident Ottawa will handle security concerns around refugee plan

THE CANADIAN PRESS Published Wednesday, November 18, 2015 7:43AM AST

A Syrian woman waits in front of a mobile clinic as she hold her daughter at a refugee camp in the southern town of Zahrani, south of the port city of Sidon, Lebanon on Monday, Sept. 7, 2015. (AP / Bilal Hussein)

Text:

HALIFAX -- Nova Scotia's premier doesn't want to pre-judge whether Ottawa should pull back from a plan to bring 25,000 Syrian refugees into Canada by the end of the year.

Stephen McNeil said Tuesday that Ottawa is responsible for handling any security concerns that arise from its screening process of refugees and his province remained ready to proceed with welcoming newcomers once it's determined how that will happen.

McNeil said he expected many of those concerns to be addressed in a federal-provincial meeting next week, in light of the recent terror attacks in Paris and Beirut.

"Security coming into the country is the responsibility of the federal government," said McNeil. "So if it (the plan) continues to move forward we are ready to participate as part of the federation."

He made the comments following the release of a letter by Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall who says the refugee plan may pose a threat to Canadian security.

The Nova Scotia Immigration Department said it is continuing to plan for the eventual arrival of refugees and will use its 211 service line to gauge and co-ordinate help offered by the public.

Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab said individuals or businesses should call the line with any offers of clothing, food, lodging, or financial donations.