Manitoba will welcome between 1,500-2,000 Syrian refugees to the province before the end of the year.
The first refugees will initially call Winnipeg home due to the housing and services readily available.
Manitoba Labour and Immigration, the Manitoba Emergency Measures Organization and other partner organizations are coordinating the efforts.
A Manitoba Housing Task Force has been created to identify suiting housing in the city and in other areas of the province. Privately sponsored refugees will go to the community where their sponsor group is, such as in Altona, Manitoba, where one group will welcome one family with 11 children.
The Canadian Red Cross will establish a help line for people wanting to assist, which will be formally launched on Monday.
“The Canadian Red Cross has the resources and volunteers available to assist the government of Manitoba in welcoming the refugees who have been forced to flee their homes in search of a better life,” said Shawn Feely, vice-president, Manitoba Canadian Red Cross.
The province has already set aside $1.4 million, including $200,000 in front-line support for Syrian refugees.
The federal government plans to resettle 25,000 refugees to Canada by the end of February 2016. The previous deadline of December 31 was pushed back on Tuesday.
