Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau welcomed 163 “new Canadians” this Thursday night. They’re the first group of the 10,000 Syrian refugees the government plans to bring into Canada by the end of December.
With winter coats, and toys for the children, Prime Minister Trudeau welcomed the refugees, visibly tired after a 16-hour journey from Lebanon, to their new home.
“Tonight, they step off the plane as refugees, but they walk out of this terminal as permanent residents of Canada,” the Prime Minister said.
The immigration authorities received the refugees in a separate building, where they could go through customs and the regular health screening, and also receive the necessary paperwork to start a new life as Canadians.
“We get to show the world how to open our hearts and welcome in people who are fleeing extraordinarily difficult situations,” Mr. Trudeau added.
Trudeau’s predecessor Stephen Harper implemented stronger rules to admit refugees during his administration. However, the new government’s plan to bring in 25,000 Syrian refugees before March has received widespread public support. In fact, all the refugees of this first group were sponsored by private Canadian citizens or groups, who had to raise approximately 28,000 Canadian dollars per family.
During the emotional act, Trudeau said: “We define a Canadian not by skin color, or language, or religion or background, but by a shared set of values, aspirations, hopes and dreams that, not just Canadians, but people around the world share.”
Image Copyright : Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press, via Associated Press
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Google+
LinkedIn
Email