Chris Friesen: Canada and Friesen

chris friesen: Immigration Canada pledged to bring in 25,000 government-assisted refugees this calendar year, according to The Waterloo Record. About 6,000 are still to come. Canada is on the cusp of receiving another surge of Syrians in order to meet its ambitious refugee admissions target by the end of 2016, though government officials are mum on the details around timing. Chris Friesen of British Columbia Immigrant Services Society was unequivocal about the progress made since last year and whether Canada is more prepared to handle the upcoming arrivals. "Oh, God, yes. Friesen said those lessons include expanded orientation, more education around tracking down permanent housing and better measures to accommodate large families. Absolutely," Friesen said in an interview Monday, laughing heartily. "We're in a much better situation." Experience from the first phase, combined with a longer lead-up time, means the many lessons learned can be put into practice in preparation for the fall, he said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.