A man kisses his child on a beach after crossing the Aegean sea in a dinghy with other refugees and migrants from Turkey to the northeastern Greek island of Lesbos, on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2015.
©AP Photo/Santi Palacios
Prince Edward Island’s minister responsible for immigration says he was disappointed to receive a telephone call from an Islander Tuesday urging government to stop bringing refugees and immigrants to P.E.I.
Workforce Development Minister Richard Brown says it’s the first telephone call he has received like this in his 30 years as an elected politician.
And it’s one he wholeheartedly disagrees with.
“It was a person who just didn’t believe we should be bringing in immigrants altogether,” Brown said Tuesday.
This follows reports of an increase in racist remarks being made in P.E.I.
Last week a complaint was lodged about a racist comment made on one of the province’s transit buses.
Comments on social media sites have also displayed some unsavoury remarks from locals, prompting the Council of Canadians to plan a rally in support of Muslims and refugees in P.E.I.
But Brown says he believes these cases are the exception in Prince Edward Island.
“Ninety-nine per cent of Islanders want us to support (refugees). We have to stand up and help and our resolve is to stand up and help. And we will.”
He gave an impassioned statement in the provincial legislature Tuesday, saying P.E.I. welcomes refugees and immigrants with “open arms.”
“Everybody that comes to Prince Edward Island is welcome here. And all Islanders want you to stay on Prince Edward Island.”
The minister pointed to the many Islanders rallying together to provide assistance to the refugees who will soon arrive on the Island.
Individuals are collecting food, money and clothing.
Church groups and organizations are working together to ensure the refugees feel welcome and secure when they arrive in P.E.I.
“Islanders are behind this,” Brown said.
“I was just upset today that the first time in 30 years I received a call to this effect. And I’m in no way saying that’s a typical Islander. This is somebody who’s just mad. We’re going to move on from it.”