PICTOU – County council has fulfilled its financial obligation to a local group that brings in refugee families.
Councllors agreed in a vote of 10-1 Tuesday to pay the final instalment of $5,000 to the Pictou United Church which works with the refugee group CAiRN. The county had agreed a total commitment of $30,000. It still has $7,500 set aside for a Westville group that has been waiting two years for its first refugee family to arrive.
CAiRN will soon bring its third Syrian family to the county.
Councillors spoke about the benefits of hosting refugee families fleeing war zone areas in hopes of finding peace in places such as Pictou County.
Coun. Larry Turner said as a school teacher he has witnessed first-hand these children learn and overcome many challenges that make them “some of the best kids in school right now.”
Coun. Andy Thompson said the province and country are very committed to immigration and the people arriving have proven they are here to add to the local economy and culture by working at local farmers markets or opening businesses.
But Coun. Peter Boyes didn’t agree with the funding decision, saying that the county needs to focus on helping people in its own area suffering due to lack of income or resources.
“All I am saying is we have people in our own county who are in bad shape,” he said. “We can throw money everywhere else, let’s throw money at them as well.”
Warden Robert Parker said the county’s contribution of $30,000 was just a small amount compared to the hard work volunteers put in the refugee program through fundraising. He added there are social programs in place for people in need in the county and province, but these refugees are fleeing their homes with nothing.
