8 Wing/CFB Trenton prepares for refugee resettlement

Technicians and military personnel have been busy preparing the the Trenton Cadet Training Centre for refugee resettlement. – Photos by Ross Lees

By Ross Lees
8 Wing/CFB Trenton is ready to respond to the refugee resettlement timeline outlined by the Canadian government Tuesday afternoon.

Base personnel have been preparing the Trenton Cadet Training Centre (TCTC) to receive Syrian refugees on an as-needed basis.

Cadet camp buildings are being modified to winterize and serve the needs of the refugees.

The Liberal government’s revised plan to expect to process 10,000 refugees prior to the end of the year and the full 25,000 by February’s end, was welcome news for the military and Canadians preparing to receive the Syrian refugees.

In addition to preparing the cadet training centre for the resettlement, 8 Wing/CFB Trenton will also airlift refugees to Canada every 48 hours, if needed.

Called a “humanitarian action” by the Jane Philpott, Minister of Health, and a “national project” by John McCallum, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, the resettlement project will take the co-operation of the Canadians as a whole to complete successfully.

“Canadians said, if it takes a little bit longer to do it right, then that’s what you should do,” said McCallum, Tuesday. “I have never felt so patriotic as a Canadian as I am today, to be involved in bringing 25,000 people from the most dire conditions on the planet here to our blessed country of Canada.”

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan announced the Department of National Defence would be assisting immigration officials with the screening and processing of refugees overseas prior to their arrival in Canada.

“We will be assisting with medical screening and with the processing of application, including assistance with the collection of biometrics,” he said during the official announcement late Tuesday afternoon.

The resettlement will be a massive national endeavor. Military will provide airlift when it is not possible through private charters and refugees will be resettled in 36 cities across the country. The Canadian Armed Forces expects to temporarily lodge up to 6,000 refugees on bases in Ontario and Quebec.

Equipment and material have been moved in and out of buildings to prepare them for the arrival of the refugees.