Chris Alexander takes heat online after death of young Syrian refugees

Conservative candidate and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander tookheat online Wednesday and Thursdayover theSyrianrefugee crisis, particularly the death of Alan Kurdi. Disturbing photos of the three-year-old boy lying facedown on aTurkish beach have circulated widely online.

On Wednesday evening, the National Post reportedthat Kurdi's family, which has relatives in B.C., wastrying to come to Canada as refugees, but was denied entryby the government.

On Thursday, a relative of the family in B.C.,Tima Kurdi, clarified that she did not apply to sponsor the family of her brother,Abdullah Kurdi(Alan's father), for citizenship. She said she did apply to sponsorthe family of her other brother, Mohammed, to come to Canada as refugees. Thatapplication was returned as incomplete, according to the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

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• Little Aylan Kurdi, washed ashore, suddenly refocuses Syrian tragedy: Nahlah Ayed

In the wake of the National Post story,Alexander announced early Thursday, that he wouldhalthis re-election campaigntoreturn to Ottawa to focus on his portfolio and the refugee crisis.

"I am meeting with officials to ascertainboth the facts of the case of the Kurdi family and to receive an update on the migrant crisis," Alexander said, in a statement Thursday morning.

There's been a lot of online reaction to how Alexander has handled the Syrian situation. Some thought it was a good move he decided tohalt the campaign.

Others thought the suspension came too late.

It's been a bumpy 24 hours for Alexander.

He sparred with CBC's Rosemary BartononPower and PoliticsWednesday, with Barton questioningAlexander on thegovernment's managementof the Syrian file.

During the interview,Alexander blamed the media for not bringing more attention to the Syrian crisis.

"Thebiggest conflict and humanitarian crisis of our time has been there for two years, and you and others have not put it in the headlines where it deserves to be," he told Barton.

Barton rebutted by saying the subject has been covered many times onPower and Politics, including in interviews with Alexander himself. That got folks on Twitter talking about the role of the media in covering the Syrian crisis.

One Twitter user considered the use of the photo against Alexander to be too exploitative...

Another tried to stress that it was about more than just the photo.

And columnist Scott Gilmore came out in defenceof Alexander.

Some weighed in on what this would mean for Alexander's political future.

Despite the pause,Alexander's campaign officewas openThursday afternoon.

The CBC's Trevor Dunntweeted a photo of the open office after two staffers arrived.Alexander is in Ottawa.