Saskatoon already welcomes several hundred refugees each year, and even more could be landing in the city with the Liberal government moving ahead with its plan to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees before the end of the year.
Saskatoon Mayor Don Atchison says the city is prepared to take its share, but has concerns about how fast the new arrivals will happen.
“I think its a very, very tight timeline and I just don’t know if its possible,” Atchison told the Brent Loucks Show on Tuesday.
“One of our big concerns in Saskatoon will be again with housing. (We) only have a three per cent vacancy rate right now.”
Premier Brad Wall penned a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asking the government suspend the plan and rethink its aggressive timeline.
“I think everyone wants to live in a safe and secure environment and I think that’s what the Premier is pointing out. I think most of our citizens in our community are on the same page.”
Atchison said they are working close with both the provincial and federal governments and next week will be speaking with minister John Mcallum on the status of the government’s refugee plan.