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Council debates help for refugees

Assisting refugees has exposed divisions at Vernon city hall.
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Assisting refugees has exposed divisions at Vernon city hall.

Council voted Monday to provide free swim and transit passes to a local church which has sponsored a refugee family.

“Refugees are sponsored by organizations,” said Coun. Scott Anderson in opposition to the motion.

“Why are we as a city putting money into folks who are sponsored when others don’t have this support?”

However, the free swim and transit passes were defended by Coun. Juliette Cunningham.

“We’re trying to integrate people who come from unfortunate circumstances,” she said.

It was also pointed out that the city does already provide help to others in the community.

Since 2014, United Way has received 2,000 single zone tickets a year which are distributed to residents in need while the Vernon School District and the city fund a program so developmentally challenged students receive transit travel training.

“Refugees are not handicapped or mentally challenged. They have supports that others do not,” said Anderson.

But Anderson’s comments brought a sharp response from Mayor Akbal Mund, who referenced community agencies that help those with disabilities or are in need.

“There are lots of support services for everybody,” said Mund.

The free swim and transit passes approved Monday are for the remainder of 2017.

The total transit pass value allocated to the United Way and the school district is up to $5,400. Since $7,680 for

refugee family transit passes has already been spent, the total actual spent could be $13,080 by the end of 2017, which is $4,080 over the transit budget for donations of service.

Staff has been directed to consider whether the budget for free transit for refugee families should be a fixed amount and whether the transit budget for donations of service should be increased.