The Provincial Government of Manitoba has informed Eastman Immigrant Services that they may not need to help settle government assisted refugees after all.

Program Director Richard Harder says in January the Province approached the regions surrounding Winnipeg and asked them to help settle government assisted refugees as Winnipeg was reaching capacity. He says Eastman immigrant services then set out to prepare Steinbach and surrounding area for an influx of government assisted refugees.

“We have worked out some details of how we would work with these additional folks because they bring additional needs with them. We have been working with church communities and other organizations who have really shown an interest in helping us out and presenting themselves as willing to carry on with day to day support that government assisted refugees need.”

Harder says last year Manitoba helped settle 585 government assisted refugee families, and this year between January and March they were on track to get 400 to 450 each month. He says the province has since reduced their pressure on outside regions.

“They were going to follow up with us to see readiness and do an assessment, but in the meantime it appears that Manitoba has pushed back to the federal government, saying send us less because in Winnipeg we are basically at capacity.”

Harder says Eastman Immigrant Services has worked very hard with church and volunteer groups to overcome some of the problems they faced such as transportation and interpretation. He says they have seen a lot of interest in helping with government assisted refugees.

“We have seen a lot of support. It is very exciting to see that. In fact I am getting calls from as far away as Vita and Zhoda, where churches are calling to see if they can help with government assisted refugees. This is quite exciting. The community is very interested and very invested and being supportive.”

Harder says there are even some groups that have already committed to privately sponsored refugees that are wanting to help even more. He says they are currently working with the province telling them that we are ready and willing.

“When I started making those calls and asked where is the process at, and when I found out it was on a stand still, we actually had a meeting as a staff and we decided our community is as ready as it will ever get. We are saying to the Manitoba government we are ready whenever you are, bring them on.”

Harder says getting this many refugees at one time is a bit of a new game to Canada and everything is still being worked out. He says we are all going to need to have a little bit of patience and also make sure that we are committed for the long haul. He adds Eastman Immigrant Services sees a community ready to help and hopes that we can help the province and the country in settling government assisted refugees.