The public was actually warned to stay away from the Toronto airport, as officials feared the overwhelming rush of kindhearted people who wanted to greet the refugees with open arms.
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The Prime Minister, joined by a number of ministers, welcomed 163 refugees. “The most important thing is that Canada is a very safe country and we are very happy that we are here”.
A flood of worldwide news coverage of Canada’s prime minister happily greeting Syrian refugees prompted commentators in the U.S.to draw comparisons Friday with the angry anti-refugee politics in their own country.
She added that organizations like hers are “inundated” with donations and offers to help.
“We are saying: ‘OK, we’re ready, send us some cases, ‘” she said.
“They said they are OK, no problem, one more day, it won’t count compared to the three or four years that have passed”, she said in a telephone interview. The premier of Ontario was with Trudeau to welcome this first large group to arrive. “They’re erasing all the minorities, all the culture”.
“…it’s not just about receiving them tonight”.
McCallum urges others to do what they can to make the refugees welcome. “We’ll be relieved when we pick them up”. More than 1.2 million refugees have arrived in Canada since World War II.
“Presently, I, personally, am very, very exhausted”, Mr. Mirakian said.
The first planeload landed at Pearson Airport around 11:30 p.m. on Thursday. Relatives and other sponsors will then take them home.
In spite of the delay and the fact that the refugees were coming through a special terminal set up for them, some people came to the airport anyway. He said the government was working with CN to work out the details of allocating the money. He said he was representing the suburban college and wore a polo shirt bearing the school’s insignia. “Now, we feel as if we got out of hell and we came to paradise”.
“Canada has been so welcoming”.
“So I thank you deeply for being a part of this because this matters”.
“Welcome, welcome to Canada”, said Hannah Bytion, as she repeatedly embraced her sister, who she last saw five years ago.
“They are not alone”, Alyaa said. They will be responsible for shepherding the family through the healthcare system and enrolling them in school and language courses.
Maryam and Nore Kasmeih wait for Syrian refugees at the airport.
The first flight arrived in Toronto before midnight and another will land in Montreal on Saturday.
After that, the government-organized flights should arrive with increasing frequency.
McCallum, who was in Jordan over the weekend, on Wednesday described the refugee effort as a “national project”, the Globe and Mail reported on Thursday.
Watch this heart warming video where Canadian children send out a message to the refugees.
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Trudeau’s government plans to accept 10,000 refugees by the end of December, and a total of 25,000 by March of next year. All of the Syrians who have come to Canada so far were privately sponsored, either by individuals or small groups.
