Communities’ Capacity for Refugees

When asked whether there an optimal size of community for settling refugees, most tended to say that the clients’ needs should determine their placement (e.g., if one is from a small city, that person should be placed in a small city; if an individual has low language proficiency he/she should be placed where appropriate language training is available). Job opportunities were also mentioned as an important variable here.

Table 5
Degree to Which Refugees Participate in Integrated Leisure Activities

Table 6
Types of Recreational Activities in Which Refugees Participate

When asked about the capacity of their communities for refugees, the respondents differed somewhat (see Table 7). Calgary and Edmonton were generally positive, although some people expressed the caveat that additional money would be required to provide services. Calgarians, in particular, expressed concern over housing. Among the smaller cities there was a greater diversity of responses. Interviewees from Fort McMurray and Grande Prairie were concerned about housing shortages; otherwise, they were favourably disposed towards an increase in the number of refugees to be destined there. Respondents from Lethbridge were in favour of increased numbers of refugees, but they were concerned that there might not be enough jobs to support a substantial increase in newcomers. Providers in Red Deer generally felt that that community could handle more refugees, although a few respondents had some concerns with regard to discrimination; they were worried about a backlash if too many people arrived at once. The majority of respondents from Medicine Hat were reluctant to consider increased numbers of refugees, especially if the newcomers were from the same ethnic background. They felt that they don’t have the services to accommodate larger numbers; in addition, they were worried about a lack of housing.

The interviewees were asked whether it would be preferable to destine all refugees in Alberta to Edmonton and Calgary. The results in Table 8 indicate that, for the most part, providers in Calgary and Edmonton see far more advantages than disadvantages to the proposal that all refugees be sent to their two cities. They and the respondents from most of the smaller cities noted that, overall, communities benefit from receiving refugees. People in the smaller centres stressed that if newcomers were sent only to Calgary and Edmonton, they would not integrate into Canadian society as quickly; they see their own locales as offering better service and better integration opportunities. Respondents were asked to suggest criteria that should be taken into account when developing a rationale for sending people to their communities. The following is a compendium of the suggestions that were given most frequently:

• Consult the city in question regarding employment needs in the community

• Provide realistic orientation for refugees prior to their arrival

• Provide overseas officers with accurate, up-to-date information on the cities

• Destine people to places where they have friends or relatives

• Match the occupation and education of the refugee with the needs of the community

Table 7
Respondents’ Perceptions of Communities’ Capacity for Refugees

Table 8
Advantages & Disadvantages of Destining All Refugees to Edmonton and Calgary