Toronto

Ontario will leave out the welcome mat for Syrian refugees although concerns have been raised around the world that terrorists may hide in their midst.

Premier Kathleen Wynne said the province intends to settle 10,000 refugees here by the end of 2016.

Security measures will be in place to protect Ontarians and Canadians from terrorist threats, she said.

“But we can do that and at the same time bring people to this province safely and provide refuge for them, so we’re going to do that,” Wynne said Tuesday. “It’s a big number, but there are millions of people who are in desperation at this point.”

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall has asked the Justin Trudeau government to suspend its plan to accept 25,000 Syrian refugees in Canada within 2015.

Wall says the federal government’s goal doesn’t provide enough time to ensure people who would harm Canadians don’t exploit a rushed refugee screening process.

At least one of the Paris attackers is believed to have entered Europe as a bogus refugee.

Ontario PC Leader Patrick Brown doesn’t object to the goal of bringing in 25,000 refugees to Canada, but said it should only be done with a thorough screening.

“We want to help — it’s in our DNA,” Brown said Tuesday. “Just like the premier of Saskatchewan has asked some valid questions, I hope that the (Ontario) premier would ask those same valid questions of Prime Minister Trudeau.”

Wynne wouldn’t comment on Wall’s position, but said Ontario is prepared to do its part to help the federal government reach its goal.

“We believe that it’s very important in the face of this humanitarian crisis to be resolute and to open our doors,” she said. “It’s who we are as Canadians. It’s who we are as Ontarians.”

She said discussions are underway with federal officials to meet housing, language and other needs of new arrivals.

Residents shouldn’t be unduly worried about their safety as Syrian refugees begin arriving, she said.

“We have to be vigilant, we have to be perhaps more vigilant in terms of security measures, and we will certainly be working with the federal government to make sure that all of those protections are in place.”

antonella.artuso@sunmedia.ca