“Their sister came to pick them up with flowers and Canadian flags”.
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“…it’s not just about receiving them tonight”.
It’s also true that all of these refugees came to Canada through private sponsorships, not under the arm of the federal government led by Trudeau, who was so eager to share the spotlight with them. For those being met by their sponsors locally in Toronto or Montreal, the sponsors will receive specific information about when and where to meet the new arrivals. The details of the ticket subsidy program are yet to be worked out with partners in the arts community, he said. Many appeared shy and taken aback by the media attention.
More Syrian refugees arrive in Canada. “It’s a historical moment”.
In the coming days, CN will join with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and other Canadian business leaders to direct funds to assist with housing and other needs of Syrian refugees.
“We suffered a lot”, Jamkossian said.
“It’s a different situation for us because we’ve got… an island nation, we don’t have the land borders that some European countries do”. All told, the screening process can take as long as two years.
“Our top priority in terms of fundraising from the business community (is) housing, housing and housing”, McCallum said.
This morning CN Rail announced it was donating $5 million toward refugee resettlement with the money focused on housing.
“This is a significant step in fulfilling our plan to bring 25,000 Syrian refugees to Canada in the coming months”.
Syrian refugees stepped off a plane at Toronto’s Pearson Airport to a warm welcome by none other the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who cheerfully snapped selfies with exhausted but happy new arrivals.
“We’re not going to sleep until they get here”, she said outside a Travelodge hotel near Pearson International Airport around 2 a.m.
Justin Trudeau, newly-elected Liberal premier, today led by example when he attended the arrival of the first military plane carrying Syrian refugees to be resettled in Canada.
In three months, Yukon Cares raised $46,000 to sponsor the Syrian family and help them with food, rent, clothing and furniture in Canada. “You are home. Welcome home”, said Trudeau in response to an Aleppo family who thanked him and Canada for the hospitality they received.
Canadian groups pay the living expenses for a family’s first year at a cost of $28,000 per family.
Broadcaster CBC reported in November that Canada will accept only whole families, lone women or children from Syria, while unaccompanied men – considered a security risk – will be turned away. It cited polls that show a majority in both countries support resettling Syrians.
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Canadians eager to show their support for the newcomers weren’t deterred by the fact that they couldn’t do so face to face.
