Refugee financial support: Setting the record straight

The group coordinating the arrival of 250 Syrians to P.E.I. wants to clear up any misconceptions about how much financial support refugees receive once they land here.

Some Islanders have questioned recent news coverage on the influx of refugees, asking why refugees receive more help than other struggling Islanders, and suggesting the province should look after its own citizens first.

"They're a very, very, very small minority group, and I look at it as, they're just mean at the world," said P.E.I. Immigration Minister Richard Brown.

"As soon as any immigrant family lands on P.E.I., I consider them Islanders. They are Canadians, they're entitled to the entitlements in Canada, and we give them no less or more than any other Canadian."

Refugee support same as social assistance

In their first year, government­-sponsored refugee families do receive monthly payments from the federal government.

The exact dollar amount depends on the size of the family and the social assistance rate in each province, but can't exceed $25,000.

It's pretty hard for a family to live on $25,000 a year.- Craig Mackie, PEI Association for Newcomers to Canada

Craig Mackie, executive director of the PEI Association for Newcomers to Canada, said the amount is meant to cover everything from rent to food to transportation.

"It's pretty hard for a family to live on $25,000 a year," said Mackie.

"That's why we spend time with them budgeting and helping show them where the deals are, where they can get food a little cheaper, and where they can cut corners on this. But they're not making money on this, that's for sure."

Refugees also receive the same basic health benefits that all Islanders do, and can apply for supplementary coverage to be paid for by the federal government.

But Mackie explains the coverage is only valid during their first year in Canada, and is limited.

"It would give them a little amount for dental and vision care and help them with certain prescription medications. It's very basic," said Mackie.

"So [refugees] don't get any higher up on the physician registry, they don't get access to special care. In fact, one of the things we do in Canadian life skills training is show them where the nearest walk-in clinic is."

'Every little bit helps'

Khalid Alzoubi says he doesn't know where he'd be today without the government financial support. He, his wife, and four children moved to PEI a year and a half ago as government sponsored refugees.

"When we left Syria, we left everything. We left our money, and our houses there. We couldn't take anything with us," said Alzoubi.

Mackie echoed that sentiment.

"They're pretty much coming with nothing," he said. "Very few of them have much more than what they were able to pack into a single suitcase each. So when you're starting with nothing, every little bit helps."

Alzoubi said the monthly payments were crucial during his first year on P.E.I., as he wasn't able to find a job given his limited English abilities. In fact, he's still unemployed and working on his English.

Like most refugees who don't find work after their first year, Alzoubi turned to social assistance.

And while it's still a struggle for his family, they're very grateful.

"I don't need anything else to live," he said. "Everything is okay for me because if you have confidence about everything, you will be okay. That's in my opinion."

Brown maintains the financial assistance given to refugees will pay off in the long run.

"These immigrants that are coming to P.E.I. are young families, young people," said Brown.

"They are increasing the workforce. And I would argue that without the increase in the workforce, we would have to be reducing services to all Islanders. So really, they're helping services to all Islanders when they arrive on P.E.I."