This moving video shows how Canada welcomes Syrian refugees

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau greeted more than 160 Syrian refugees as they arrived in Toronto late Thursday night.

Even when in opposition, the Liberals had called for Canada to increase its commitment to Syrian resettlement, suggesting back in March that 25,000 was the number in their sights; the prior Conservative government had initially pledged to take in 11,300 people by the end of 2018.

Canada’s move to welcome Syrian refugees to the country is in sharp contrast to most of the western nations who are reluctant to accept them in their country.

The centre, operated jointly by the Canadian government, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR), the Danish Refugee Council and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), began registering Syrian refugees slated for resettlement in Canada on 29 November.

“We suffered a lot”, Jamkossian said.

“With the first wave of refugees entering Canada this week, the situation is urgent”, said Luc Jobin, executive vice-president of CN.

As the first plane carrying Syrian refugees arrived in Toronto, Canadians were on hand to welcome them to their new country.

The story of Justin Trudeau greeting refugees at the airport was covered in numerous countries and was atop the New York Times website, along with a video. “The Canadians are extremely welcoming”.

But the feds have made a special provision to ensure Syrian refugees get the full slate of health care as other privately sponsored refugees and asylum-seekers in limbo get turned away.

Dr Meb Rashid, medical director at the Crossroads Clinic, a hospital-based Toronto refugee health center, said the government’s plans have shifted dramatically from one week to the next.

Canada has committed to bringing in another 9,000-plus refugees from Syria over the next three weeks, down from the original promise of 25,000 because Ottawa couldn’t meet that deadline. In September, the Obama administration announced plans to admit 10,000 in total in the next fiscal year. “More refugees are Syrian than any other nationality”.

“This is the biggest crisis in the refugee world of our times bar none”.

So far 944,909 refugees and migrants have crossed the Mediterranean to reach Europe this year, according to the UNHCR. “Our message on behalf of the arts community to newcomers is ‘welcome, we are so happy to have you in our communities, we welcome you to our spaces, performances and events when you are ready”, he said.