Citizenship and Immigration committee  To date we have not had any commitment for any provincial funding.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Mr. Chair, we haven't sort of looked internationally at other examples, but what we have done subsequently through the B.C. settlement and adaptation program, meeting with representatives from the provincial attorney general, employment and income, community services, economic development, children and families, education, the solicitor general, child and youth, and, from the federal government, Citizenship and Immigration, HRSDC, Service Canada, Canadian Heritage, Status of Women, and the City of Burnaby and the non-profit organizations, we met to see what we really need to do to address the needs of the refugees.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Mr. Chair, we have made the major request for capital funding to the federal government. As I mentioned earlier, the city is contributing $2 million in land. We do have some 80,000 square feet that we are making available to the community. In terms of operating, what we do foresee is a provincial component.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  If we can't get any provincial funding, we would be happy to take funding from any source, whether it be federal or provincial.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Mr. Chair, absolutely, the Edmonds Resource Centre is helping. For example, the question was raised earlier about whether there are other groups helping with the refugee situation. We have many, many community groups assisting, and they just do a tremendous job in the city. There are groups like Burnaby Family Life and South Burnaby Neighbourhood House; there is a major collection of clothing for the refugees; there's an emergency food bank trying to get programs through the Burnaby Christmas Bureau.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Mr. Chair, the whole issue of social enterprise is quite important. One of the facets of the hub is to try to promote that. While I did mention that there was a sewing co-op and it is very successful, we are looking at other avenues. For example, catering is another one. Where people do have the skills and they can be marketed, it does make a big difference to the adults and to their whole situation.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Mr. Chair, we do not have any specific programs in terms of unemployment among the refugee group. In terms of the economy in B.C. now, the unemployment rate is fairly low, but I suspect among the refugee group, it's much higher. In terms of employment, it's certainly one of the issues that we see to get assistance on, because to have that economic stability in the family is very important in getting not only the parents, but the children, on the right path.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Mr. Chair, in trying to seek funding, we have approached the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and we have been attempting to work with the Western Economic Diversification Office. To date, we haven't had any success.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  We have seven in Burnaby. It's not uncommon that you would see a refugee in the community room in a fetal position on a couch, just looking for a place for some relief.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Between January 2003 and December 2005, 2,444 government-assisted refugees came to B.C., and 823 of them came to Burnaby. We believe that between November 1 and December 15 of this year, Burnaby will receive an additional 282 government-assisted refugees. So the number is increasing.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Good morning. I am Basil Luksun, the director of building and planning for the City of Burnaby.