Chris Alexander pauses his election campaign in wake of refugee crisis

Immigration Minister Chris Alexander says hisdepartment never received arefugee application forAbdullah Kurdi, the father of Alan Kurdi, the Syrian boy who drowned along with his mother and brother off the coast of Turkey this week.

"We did not have an application from Abdullah and the children," Alexander said Thursday, in an interview with Rosemary Barton on CBC News Network'sPower & Politics.

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However, Alexander saidhe personally received and read a letter from B.C. residentTimaKurdiwith an impassioned plea to consider her other brother, Mohammed, and his children,for refugee status in Canada.

"I personally saw [the letter]and noted that therewasurgencyattached to it as I would do with anything related to Syria and Iraq because these are conflicts that are affecting millions of people including many, many people across Canada who have connections there.

"It went into thecorrespondenceunit it went into therefugee divisionthe way all suchcorrespondencedoes.I have a responsibility, as a minister, to not be personally involved in decisions to ensure that they're all treated equally."

Ultimately,thatapplication was returned as incomplete, Alexander said. TimaKurdisaid Thursday that Mohammedhad fled to Germany after thatrejection.

Alexander also denied reports his department offeredCanadian citizenship toAbdullahKurdiafter the loss ofhis sons and wife intheir attemptto flee to Europe by boat.

"Absolutely not. He was not offered Canadian citizenship," Alexander said. When pressedasto whether anyone from the department had reached out to Abdullah today, Alexander said that he had noreport from officials of any contact with the man.

New DemocratFinDonnellysaid he initially brought the B.C. family's case to Alexander's attention earlier this year by handdelivering a personal letter in the House of Commons.

NDP candidate tried to help family of drowned Syrian boy

9 years ago

Duration 5:35

'Canada needs to do more,' says Fin Donnelly

Speaking on CBC News Network earlyThursday,Donnellysaid Tima Kurdi's family had been doing everything they possibly could to bring her relatives to Canada.

"It was terrible and obviously action was needed," Donnellysaid. "That's why I agreed to do what I could, including personally talking to the minister about her case."

Donnellysaid his office pushed as hard as his staff could to learn more, but received no response. The result is "utter frustration and devastation," he said.

Alexander steps away from campaigning

Earlier Thursday,Alexandersteppedaway from his campaign for re-election to focus on his responsibilities as immigration minister, after images emerged of Alan Kurdi'sbodyon a shore in Turkey, and his B.C. relatives' story came to light.

Alexandercancelled a Thursday morning media appearance, in a move his office characterized as a "temporary suspension" of his campaign.

However, CBC News was present at his campaign office at midday astwo campaign workersarrived,opened for business, and began taking calls.

One told the CBC's Trevor Dunn thatAlexander was expected to return to his riding soon, because "he just went up (to Ottawa) for the day."

Chris Alexander arrives at Ottawa Airport

9 years ago

Duration 0:40

The Conservative candidate and Immigration minister stays on his phone.

In a morning statement, Alexander said "the tragic photo of young [Alan] Kurdi and the news of the death of his brother and mother broke hearts around the world."

"I am meeting with officials to ascertainboth the facts of the case of the Kurdi family and to receive an update on the migrant crisis," the statement read.

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Refugee response controversial

Alexander, a former diplomat, was first elected in 2011. Hebecame Stephen Harper's immigration minister in 2013.

In his statement, he maintained thatCanada has "one of the most generous per capita immigration and refugee resettlement programs in the world.

Minister accuses media of ignoring refugee crisis

9 years ago

Duration 1:38

Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Chris Alexander fires back when asked about government's commitment to refugees

"Prime Minister Harper has set a target for Canada to accept 23,000 Iraqis [sic] refugees and 11,300 Syrians. Of that number Canada has already resettled nearly 22,000 Iraqis and 2,300 Syrians," the statement continued.

In January, the Harper government was criticized when it announced it would acceptanother 10,000 refugeesbut wouldprioritizepersecuted ethnic and religious minorities from the region, such as Christians.

Critics have argued that not only could Canada takeeven more refugees, but the process for bringing in even the numbers already announced has been difficult and slow, with some delays caused by government budgets running low.

During a Wednesday panel appearance onCBC News Network's Power & Politics, Alexanderdefended the Harper government's response to the Syrian refugee crisis, and said the media had failed to"put it in the headlines where it deserves to be."

Trudeau: 'you don't get to suddenly discover compassion in the middle of an election campaign'

9 years ago

Duration 0:52

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau responds to a question about Immigration Minister Chris Alexander suspending his election campaign to look into the Syrian refugee crisis.

But at a campaign stop inBrossard, Que.Thursday,Liberal LeaderJustinTrudeau had harsh words for Alexander.

"You don't get to suddenly discover compassion in the middle of an election campaign," he said. "You either have it or you don't.

"This government has ignored the pleas of Canadian NGOs[non-governmental organizations], opposition parties and the international community that all believe thatCanadacould be doing more, should have been doing more," Trudeau said.

NDP Leader Tom Mulcair became emotional talking about the refugees during his Thursday campaign stop in Toronto.

The photos of the boywill "define an era," he said.

While the minister"has some questions to answer," assigning blame will not solve the problem, Mulcair said.

Tories cancel events

Alexander's cabinet colleague Jason Kenneyhad scheduled a campaign event on immigration issues in Brampton, Ont., Thursday afternoon, but his appearance waspostponed until an unspecified later time.

Harper told a crowd in Surrey, B.C., thathe and his wife,Laureen, saw the pictures of the dead boy and remembered how their own sonBenwasat that age.

"It brings tears to your eye," he said. "It truly is a heartbreaking situation."

Harper: "It brings tears to your eyes."

9 years ago

Duration 2:21

Prime Minister Stephen Harper responds to the question of whether Canada is doing enough for Syrian refugees.

"We have to do everything," he said, when asked whetherCanada was doing enough.

"We need to do more (on refugees)," Harpersaid, but "our message is also that we need to help people who are actuallythere, andcan't get away tostop the awful violence that is being directed at them, displacing them and killing them."