Minister responsible for refugees convinced all will be ready

P.E.I.'s minister responsible for immigration and the refugee file has just returned from meetings in Ottawa on welcoming Syrian refugees to Canada.

Workforce and Advanced Learning Minister Richard Brown said he is convinced more than ever that everything will be ready and in place in time.

He said the ministers were briefed on everything from the issuing of health cards and housing to the educational needs of the people who will be coming.

"Immigration Canada is really working on how to best provide information to the provincial governments in terms of who is coming, when they are coming and some information on them," said Brown.

"There is some discussion around privacy issues," he added. "But our concern is look, you know if you give us the information upfront we will be able to have everything ready for when they come here. And the feds are going to be working on that."

Brown said the first families to come to P.E.I. will be through private sponsorships, with the government ones following in January and February.

He said a request was sent out Wednesday to all the private sponsors on P.E.I. to provide updated information on when their refugee families are arriving.

P.E.I. is expected to welcome 250 refugees by the end of February.

Brown says he is "overwhelmed by the openness and willingness of Islanders to come together in this effort."