You Are Home, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Tells Syrian Refugees At Toronto

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau personally was present at the Toronto airport on Thursday to welcome the first batch of Syrian refugees to the country.

Reuters

The first flight arrived just before midnight carrying 163 refugees who fled the civil war in Syria.

The first family was a man, woman and 16-month-old girl. The second family was a man, woman, and three daughters, two of whom are twins. Trudeau and Ontario¡¯s premier welcomed them to Canada and gave them winter coats. Both families said they were happy to be here.

Reuters

You are home," Trudeau said as the first few passengers landed after their 16-hour flight from Beirut.

¡°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.

The newly elected prime minister have pledged to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end of February.

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.