A spat of online negativity by commenters regarding incoming Syrian refugees isn't worrying Chatham-Kent Councillor Brock McGregor.
"To be honest, it doesn't," says McGregor.
The loudest voices don't make up the majority according to the Ward 6 representative.
"Those represent a very small portion of individuals in Chatham-Kent," says McGregor. "The response that we've received has been overwhelmingly positive. There are people looking for opportunities to help, opportunities to volunteer, opportunities to provide financial support."
McGregor says the municipality doesn't know how many refugees will be resettled in Chatham-Kent just yet, but is working with higher levels of government through the resettlement process. He adds council recently reaffirmed Chatham-Kent's status as an open and inclusive community.
Online negativity turning into safety concerns for Syrian refugees in Chatham-Kent isn't really on the radar for McGregor.
"I'm not concerned that community members would take that to a degree that's unsafe or that would cause issues in Chatham-Kent," he says. "I think really the response needs to be information, so the municipality is working on dispelling some of those myths."
The federal government plans to bring 10,000 Syrian refugees before the end of the year and a further 15,000 by the end of February of the new year.
Click here for more information on Chatham-Kent's response to the Syrian refugee crisis.
