Immigration Minister Jason Kenney announced on July 3rd, that Canada would be making a commitment in helping displaced Syrian refugees by welcoming 1300 people into Canada by the end of 2014.

Millions of Syrian citizens have had to leave their homes due a raging civil war. Minister Kenney addressed the concerns of Syrian-Canadians who were worried about the well-being of Syrian citizens.

"I've met with hundreds of Canadians of Syrian origin over the past year and have heard their anxiety and their desire to help with those facing danger and have had to flee their homes," Kenney said in an Edmonton centre for new immigrants.

Despite the announcement for assistance, Minister Kenney made it clear that he did not believe in simply removing all the civilians from Syria and placing them in other countries, instead he stated Canada would be inviting only the most vulnerable refugees to Canada, who face further persecution in temporary camps because of factors such as their sexual orientation, or religion.

"We're looking with the UN at those people who have faced, if you will, secondary persecution. They fled Syria because of the war and now they're facing danger in some of the camps. The UN frankly just needs to get them out and those are the people we are focusing on, said Kenney.

Immigration critic Jinny Sims of the NDP commended the action taken by Immigration Canada, but also argued they could have acted sooner.

"It's a beginning, we're glad he (Kenney) is listening to the Syrian community, the international community and the NDP because, as a party, we've been pressing for this for a very long time," said Sims.

In addition to making a commitment to resettling 1300 Syrian refugees by the end of 2014, Canada has also agreed to contribute a total of $158.5 million dollars in aid.