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Surrey Board of Trade wants government to increase supports for refugees

Surrey business group wants income support increased to three years and career planning enhanced
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SURREY — The Surrey Board of Trade wants to see better supports for refugees.

SBoT won the support of business organizations across the province for a focus on refugees at this past weekend’s BC Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting and Conference, May 25 – 27 in Victoria.

The Surrey Board of Trade is asking the provincial government to work with the federal government to extend federal income support to three years, and to enhance education and career planning for refugees.

“The Surrey Board of Trade is the co-chair of Surrey’s Local Immigration Partnership Table. In 2016, Canada accepted approximately 40,000 Syrian refugees,” said Anita Huberman, CEO Surrey Board of Trade.

“Surrey became home to nearly half of those arriving in B.C.,” she added. “Business is facing a skills shortage in our industries. We want to give our refugees the best supports possible. Only about 10 per cent of refugees find employment in their first year in Canada. The concern is the need for B.C. to support families that the federal government has accepted until they are sufficiently employable through English and other training.”