There's room for everyone.
That's the message from regional officials responding to a rash of online comments suggesting the area should be helping those in need locally before accepting hundreds of Syrian refugees.
Windsor's community development commissioner, Jelena Payne, says it's a difficult conversation to have.
"I see the tremendous need in our community every single day," she says. "We work with those individuals every single day. I don't think it's a matter of an argument of one over the other."
Comments on BlackburnNews.com paint a very clear picture that some believe the needy should be taken care of before the region accepts more refugees.
Sorry to be heartless but my family and neighbours come first."Too bad the Syrian government doesn’t do more for their people. Where will this end. Canada isn’t Canada anymore. Our own people are struggling," says one commenter on BlackburnNews.com.
"Why is it that no matter how many times individuals ask why money is being directed at refugees while our own people suffer, there is never any response?" another commenter says.
"Take them back home. Most of the Canadians don't want or need them here. Why spend that much tax payers money on refugees when Canadians are needing it more. We need to take care of our own, let Syria take care of their own," Theresa says on Facebook.Others have a different view: "I would hope that you would not be so hateful to these poor people's faces, and get to know them before you make judgement. If I were in a similar situation, fleeing from war, trying to protect my family, I would hope that the community where I found a place to live would treat me with dignity."
Either way, city officials say it's important for the refugees to know they're welcome.
"They're coming to a new country and we have to recognize that everything is new for them," says Payne. "Knowing that they're coming to a welcoming community, a community that is here to assist them, I think, is one of the most important things."
The first flights carrying government-sponsored refugees are expected to arrive in Toronto on Thursday.
A group has been established in Chatham-Kent to inform residents about the Syrian crisis and its impact on the region.
In Windsor, it's still unclear how many refugees will be coming. However, dozens of privately-sponsored Syrians have already arrived.
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