TORONTO, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Canada will create an emergency
relief fund by matching the donations of Canadians to assist
refugees in conflict zones in the Middle East, the minister of
international development said on Saturday.
The government will match contributions donated to
registered Canadian charities, up to a maximum of C$100 million
($75.43 million).
"These funds will be used to help meet the basic needs of
conflict-afflicted people in the region including shelter, food,
health and water as well as protection and emergency education,"
Christian Paradis said at a news conference in Ottawa.
"The fund will also be used to provide assistance in some
transit countries for refugees."
The Canadian government's response to the refugee crisis
came under fire after a Syrian toddler's body washed up on a
Turkish beach, and it emerged that the child's family had wanted
to emigrate to Canada. The revelation rattled Prime Minister
Stephen Harper's re-election bid.
The centre-left opposition Liberals and New Democrats,
leading the ruling Conservatives in most polls ahead of an Oct.
19 election, have railed against Canada's slow refugee process
and pledged to do more to accept additional refugees from the
war in Syria.
Earlier on Saturday, Canadian Defence Minister Jason Kenney
said the government will introduce more measures, including
fast-tracking the resettlement of Syrian refugees in Canada. In
an interview on CBC Radio, Kenney said the government will focus
on speeding up the process for religious and ethnic minorities
in the region.
($1 = 1.3257 Canadian dollars)