.... In an email to CTV News, a spokesperson from (Immigration Minister Chris) Alexander's office said the halt was ordered to ensure the "integrity" of the processing system was maintained.
The emailed statement said the Conservative government has "consistently" been concerned that the most vulnerable refugees get protection, and that Canadian security is not compromised.
"In order to ensure that the appropriate referral and screening procedures were in place, an audit of the first tranche of Syrian Government Assisted Refugees was undertaken," the statement said. "This was a prudent step to ensure the integrity of our refugee referral system."
The statement said the processing of government-assisted refugees from Syria resumed after there was "confidence that our procedures were adequate” to identify vulnerable people in need of protection, while also screening out any threats.
The processing of privately sponsored refugees from Syria continued throughout the same time period, the statement said.
The halt was ordered months before the refugee crisis made international headlines this summer, after a photo of a dead Syrian toddler, later identified as three-year-old Alan Kurdi, surfaced.
The halt was never disclosed to the public, while an audit was ordered of all UN referrals from 2014 and 2015. It is unclear when the halt was lifted, according to the Globe report ....
