One of the most moving parts of the Syrians’ arrival isn’t actually even in the video: Canada’s newly elected prime minister, Justin Trudeau, was at the airport to greet the refugees in person.
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Outfitted in new winter coats and clutching their yawning 16-month-old daughter in the wee hours of Friday morning, a Syrian refugee family on the first large government flight began their new life in Canada – or, as they call it, “paradise”.
Jane Philpott, minister of health, and John McCallum (far right), minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship, are calling on Canada’s business community to provide funding to help resettle Syrian refugees.
In late November, the Liberals admitted they would fail to meet the target, saying they will bring in 10,000 mostly private-sponsored refugees by the year’s end and another 15,000 government-sponsored refugees by 29 February.
Christians, who made up about 10 per cent of Syria’s pre-war population of 23 million, were among several religious minorities the former Conservative government gave priority to for refugee status in Canada.
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.
Canada’s openness to this issue stands in contrast to the U.S. as they have been unenthusiastic about taking in refugees into their country.
“Every week it seems clearer than the week before, but we can’t say we have absolute clarity yet”.
Canada’s commitment reflects the change in government after October’s election. A handful of people gathered at the worldwide arrivals gate at Pearson airport bearing signs and gifts.
“This is something we’re able to do in this country because we define a Canadian not by a skin color or a language or a religion or a background, but by a shared set of backgrounds, aspirations, hopes and dreams that not just Canadians but people around the world share”.
Canada has long prided itself on opening its doors to asylum-seekers. In the 1990s, Canada took in 5,000 people from Kosovo; in 1972, it flew 5,000 people from Uganda; 60,000 Vietnamese were airlifted in 1979-80.
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Trudeau said last month that he is “very much committed to keeping Canadians safe” while continuing to bring Syrian refugees into the country.
