Solidarity and security concerns mark Canadian response to Paris attack

During the election campaign that vaulted his Liberals to victory over the nine-year-old Conservative government of Stephen Harper, Trudeau pledged to withdraw Canadian jets from the US-led airstrikes against Islamic State.

Trudeau says that’s an expertise Canadian troops have developed, especially during the war in Afghanistan.

On Friday, he condemned the terror attacks, and called ISIL a scourge.

The Americans are leading the worldwide coalition’s efforts and Obama is scheduled to have a sit-down meeting with Trudeau at the APEC summit in the Philippines on Thursday.

Trudeau has reportedly asked other countries to follow Canada’s promise to take in 25,000 Syrian refugees.

“It’s a bit of a Camelot era… there is a lot of pent-up enthusiasm”, said a second G20 diplomat, referring to the glowing coverage of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy, who came to power in 1961 with a photogenic young family.

In response to a query by the audience following a speech to business leaders, Mr. Trudeau replied on Sunday morning that “on the Syrian refugee crisis and the refugee crisis writ large, I’m pleased to say that Canada has tremendous examples of having integrated people fleeing for their lives from very hard situations to become not only citizens but active contributors to Canada’s success”.

“The G20’s commitment to a bold new deal for refugees – ensuring their right to work, to access health care and education and provide safe and legal routes to other countries – could make a huge difference to the lives of millions of people”, said Steve Price-Thomas, Oxfam’s deputy advocacy director.

Trudeau’s office said Saturday the Prime Minister was briefed by the RCMP and Canadian Security Intelligence Service officials on the Paris attacks.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for Friday’s attacks on the Stade de France, a concert hall and Paris cafes that left 129 people dead and more than 350 wounded, 99 of them seriously. Prior to the Trudeau meeting, Fabius defended France’s decision to launch retaliatory air strikes on ISIL in Raqqa, Syria.

Trudeau made his remarks at a leaders’ dinner Sunday night at the Turkish resort of Antalya, where the G20 was meeting.

Trudeau also held bilateral meetings Monday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.