Hugs, tears as Syrian refugees meet sponsors

A military plane carrying the first group of refugees arrived at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, where they were met by Trudeau and Canadian citizens eager to greet the new arrivals. “Certainly every provincial government has signed on with enthusiasm”, he said.

Literally. Justin Trudeau, the new Prime Minister of Canada, was there when 163 Syrian refugees touched down in Canada to start their new lives.

The first Syrian family, a couple with a 16-month-old daughter and the second, a young family of five, said they were pleased to have made it to Canada, CBC news reported.

“It’s a very important initiative and something that Canada is getting behind, but that doesn’t absolve the government of its responsibility to be asking how we are resourcing these initiatives”, Ms. Rempel said.

Another such aircraft will arrive in Montreal on Saturday, he told legislators.

Now that he’s in Canada, Jenanian said he hopes to improve his English and get a steady job.

They told incoming refugees everything Canada has to offer.

‘This is not a government project, ‘ said John McCallum, minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship, at an announcement about corporate funding to help Canada resettle Syrian Refugees.

The sponsoring group’s duties begin after they pay start-up costs of about $7,000, then meet their assigned refugee family at the airport to escort them home, according to Lifeline Syria. “There’s no war. You can go to school safely”.

As of December 7, there were 1,451 Syrian refugees who had received permanent resident visas to come to Canada but had not arrived.

Surrounded by a media pack, amid spotlights and camera flashes, the newcomers were ushered into the hotel where they were hoping for a good night of sleep before being greeted and picked up by families, relatives and for some, the Canadian sponsors they have never met.

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.

More than 400 refugees have already arrived on commercial flights since the Liberals took office on November 4.