Don Cayo: Canada’s refugee intake makes barely a dent in addressing a global problem

Good on you, Canada, for responding to the Syrian refugee crisis. Taking in 25,000 displaced people is no mean feat, even for a country as large, as rich and as thinly populated as ours, and even with the new Liberal government’s self-imposed tight deadline extended by a couple of months. All these newcomers must be properly vetted, transported to Canada, and housed. And it will take a huge commitment to integrate so many newcomers into our communities — to overcome language barriers, help them cope with a vastly different climate and culture, evaluate their educational and occupational qualifications, and establish them in schools or jobs.