Louisa Taylor and Refugee

Syrian refugee: Meanwhile, the umbrella group Refugee 613 has emerged to co-ordinate settlement agencies and community services, according to CBC. Louisa Taylor, who has been volunteering to help co-ordinate the group, said it has been an eye-opening experience. "Every single aspect for refugee response is underfunded at the moment," said Taylor. "Settlement agencies have been cut to the bone in recent years. Syrian refugee plan goes to Liberal cabinet Thursday Canada strikes committee to fast track resettlement Details about the Liberals' Syrian resettlement plan — as well as the money to go with it — could come as early as Thursday afternoon when the government is expected to make another announcement. They need more funds to do their jobs." Carl Nicholson, executive director of the Catholic Centre for Immigrants in Ottawa, says his budget has dropped by a few million dollars. Executive director Carl Nicholson said the organization receives about two-thirds of its funding from the federal government. "At one point, our budget was about $8 million; it now about $5.5 million," Nicholson said. "It not because we're seeing less people — it because the federal government decided to invest less." No one from the federal Immigration Department was available for a comment. Cuts have had an impact on services at agencies such as the Catholic Centre for Immigrants. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.