BURNABY, B.C. — British Columbia's premier says the province is ready to welcome Syrian refugees but still needs to work out funding details with the federal government.
Clark says the newcomers need the strongest-possible chance of succeeding, and Metro Vancouver's housing prices alone are the highest in the country.
The premier says the province has set aside $1 million to resettle newcomers, who will need trauma counselling after being forced to leave their homes.
She says refugees are expected to resettle across B.C., though the federal government now says the first wave of newcomers it is sponsoring will be settled in the Lower Mainland.
Clark says Ottawa's decision to welcome 25,000 refugees by the end of February instead of by year's end means more services will be in place to help people transition to a new country.
She says it's not known how many refugees will come to B.C., though she has previously said the province is ready to accept 3,500 people.
