FX.co ★ Trudeau greets first wave of Syrian refugees

The first refugee flight landed in Toronto, where people were greeted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, ministers of immigration, health, and defense of Canada as well as by Premier of Ontario Kathleen Wynne and Mayor of Toronto John Tory.

Canada’s authorities asked people not to come to the airport in order not to tire refugees after a long flight. Nevertheless, a lot of people came to greet the Syrians.

“This is a wonderful night, where we get to show not just a planeload of new Canadians what Canada is all about, we get to show the world how to open our hearts and welcome in people who are fleeing extraordinarily difficult situations,” Trudeau said earlier to staff and volunteers who were waiting to process the refugees.

“This is something that we are 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,” he said, “but by a shared set of values, aspirations, hopes and dreams that not just Canadians but people around the world share.”

Such a friendly welcome of the Syrian migrants contrasts with the situation in the US, where one of contenders for the presidency, several governors, and some citizens calling for a ban on refugees’ arrival in the country. At the moment, a number of migrants in Canada exceeds 500 people.