SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Coun. Niels Konge said he's frustrated the territory won't consider the benefits bringing Syrian refugees to the NWT could provide to the territory's bottom line.

Mayor Mark Heyck leads a discussion about what residents and levels of government can do to help with the plight faced by Syrian refugees during a meeting in council chambers in September. A fundraiser dinner in support of Syrian refugees is scheduled for Dec. 5. - Evan Kiyoshi French/NNSL photo

In September, when a group of residents met in council chambers to discuss what residents and levels of government could do to help the plight of Syrian refugees, David Connelly, owner of Yellowknife-based consulting firm Ile Royale Enterprises Ltd., pitched his idea to have the GNWT bring more than 1,000 refugees to the territory.

Every new refugee brought into the territory represents around $30,000 in federal transfer payments.

Andrew Livingstone, GNWT cabinet spokesperson, stated in an e-mail to Yellowknifer that the GNWT is not looking at the plight of refugees from a financial perspective, but Konge said they're missing an opportunity.

"Every person in the NWT is just dollars to the GNWT," said Konge. "When we have the finance minister saying we need to add 2,000 people to the territory. We should be looking at this."

Konge said he's been following the news, watching Canadian support for Syrian refugees waver in the wake of the deadly terrorist attacks in Paris, in which 129 people were killed.

In a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall stated his opinion that the federal government's plans to bring in 25,000 refugees from Syria by the end of this year should be suspended, citing national security concerns

"I am concerned that the overwhelming majority of refugees are fleeing violence and bloodshed and pose no threat to anyone," he stated in his letter to the Prime Minister. "However, if even a small number of individuals who wish to do harm to our country are able to enter Canada as a result of a rushed refugee settlement process, the results could be devastating."

Konge said he thinks Canadians shouldn't be overly concerned about security when considering allowing Syrian refugees to enter the country.

"Will we get a bad egg, probably," he said. "But we've already got bad eggs here. When people are putting themselves in boats and crossing oceans to try and escape their situation, I don't call those people terrorists."

Heyck said he won't take into account the financial boost of federal transfer payments when looking into the issue of bringing refugees North, either.

"I don't approach it from that angle," he said. "The desire to help comes from a humanitarian perspective, not a financial perspective. I do think the territorial government is keen to support what this and other communities in the NWT want to do. I don't see it as a money making endeavour. It's a way to help people in dire circumstances elsewhere in the world."

Heyck said the country has given shelter to refugees in the past and attacks in Paris shouldn't affect the desire to help.

"People who are fleeing Syria are fleeing the kind of people who perpetrate these kinds of attacks," he said.

Heyck said the working group has organized a fundraiser dinner for Dec. 5 which will raise money for non-profit groups, such as the Red Cross, that are on the ground helping refugees right now. He said it's too early to say what contribution the city will be able to make because the new government in Ottawa is still settling in.

"Things are in a state of flux with the new federal government. There's some waiting that has to take place while the policy of the last government is reviewed and revised," he said. "Once that happens there may be significant interest in the community in terms of sponsorship communities. I certainly see an appetite in our residents to go beyond fundraising and actually look at sponsorship opportunities."

Coun. Linda Bussey, who attended the September meeting, stated in an e-mail to Yellowknifer that the community needs to do what it can - either through fundraising or sponsorship - to help the refugees. She said the attacks in Paris shouldn't affect people's resolve to help, but security screening needs to be transparent.

"I think we need to endorse Trudeau's commitments and not be (frightened) by the event in Paris," she stated. "But our federal government does need to ensure that the processes in place are not modified to reach it's goal of 25,000 (Syrian refugees). The process needs to be transparent and provide accountability. But let's not be scared."

Coun. Julian Morse stated in an e-mail to Yellowknifer he "wholeheartedly supports" bringing refugees to the city.

"Several of my friends growing up here were refugees from the Yugoslav wars," he said. "If people take a look around they will realize that Yellowknife already has many refugees living here. They're our friends and neighbours. I see no reason why we shouldn't welcome more."

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