In the wake of the Paris attacks that killed 130, the Trudeau government has slowed – but not discarded – the refugee policy that originally planned to bring 25,000 Syrians to Canada by January 1, 2016.
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“The Canadian Armed Forces has a strong history of supporting humanitarian operations, including, when necessary, the transportation and temporary housing of refugees”, said Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan in a statement.
But while the immigration, refugee and citizenship department says 70 communities across Canada have signed up to welcome privately sponsored refugees, the vast majority of those arriving Thursday were expected to call the Greater Toronto Area home.
– The Liberals make a commitment that if elected, they would resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees under government care.
One military aircraft arrived in Toronto on Thursday, and another will arrive in Montreal on Saturday.
Mr Trudeau, who swept the 19 October Canadian elections, has a different stance on refugees than his predecessor, the conservative Stephen Harper, who did not wish to resettle more people.
All of the Syrians on board are sponsored by private groups, many of whom had filed the necessary paperwork months ago in order to bring in some of the estimated 4.3 million Syrians displaced by the ongoing civil war in that country.
The flight will land in a specially prepared part of the airport’s infield terminal.
Only a small number (32 per cent) of Canadians actually think that Syrian refugees will have a positive effect on Canada’s economy.
“We’re happy that they’re coming”, an exhausted-sounding Mr. Mirakian said by phone from his home. We don’t have any (refugees) yet, but they are in process.
Roughly 600 Syrians from refugee camps in Jordan and Lebanon will arrive by plane in Canada this evening. “I think it really is a different tone and encouragement”, said Yussuff.
“We just wanted them to feel that Canada is welcoming and the diversity of who we are”, Mr. Teti said.
November 24: The Liberal government admits it won’t be able to bring 25,000 refugees in by the end of the year.
After they arrive on Thursday, the Syrian refugees will go to a border screening center at the airport, where they will be given warm food and clothes and processed, before spending a night in a hotel, the Toronto Star reports.
Toronto’s airport authority urged Canadians not to come to the airport to greet the refugees or drop off donations, saying: “We’re so proud that our community wants to help, but such a response would be very overwhelming for those arriving”.
One refugee is scheduled to be settled in New Westminster, three in Coquitlam and four in Kelowna, according to the federal government.
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The government says they have 12,538 applications now in the system.
