Governor General welcomes latest planeload of Syrian refugees in Toronto

Details
Category: Canada News
Published Friday, December 18, 2015
CTV News

TORONTO -- The latest government-organized flight carrying Syrian refugees to Canada has landed in Toronto, with Gov. Gen. David Johnston on hand to greet the newcomers.

See Full Article

The chartered plane from Beirut, carrying about 214 refugees, is the fourth flight organized by Ottawa as part of its plan to bring 10,000 Syrian refugees to the country by the end of the year.

Johnston, his wife, his daughter and four grandchildren were going to greet the first few refugees later Friday once they were processed by immigration officials.

He spoke with some of the federal government employees who were going to issue Social Insurance cards to the refugees.

He thanked them for their work and also shook hands with an interpreter on hand to help the refugees.

He tried out a few words of Arabic, including the term for the word "welcome."

The latest flight means nearly 1,500 Syrian refugees have arrived in Canada since the Liberal government took office.

The Liberals have promised to bring a total of 25,000 refugees to the country by the end of February.



Advertisements

Latest Canada & World News

  • G7 leaders confer with Zelenskyy, prep new aid for Ukraine

    World News CTV News
    ELMAU, Germany - Leading economic powers conferred by video link with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday as they underscored their commitment to Ukraine for the long haul with plans to pursue a price cap on Russian oil, raise tariffs on Russian goods and impose other new sanctions. Source

  • Canada outperformed most G10 countries during first two years of pandemic response: study

    Canada News CTV News
    Canada handled key aspects of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic better in the first two years of the health emergency than most G10 countries, according to a new study. Researchers from the University of Toronto and Unity Health Toronto compared COVID-19 infection, death, excess mortality and vaccination rates, social and public health restrictions and economic performance to determine how the G10 countries performed. Source

  • Widow angry with broken N.S. health care system after husband dies waiting for heart surgery

    Canada News CBC News
    Gay Clarke keeps wondering why things didn't happen differently. "I did all the what-ifs," she said. She and her husband, Mark Clarke, lived in Kentville, N.S., until his death at the age of 66 in February. Source

  • Libraries in Canada hit by wave of hate, threats, as right-wing groups protest all-age drag events

    Canada News CBC News
    Family-friendly drag events across Canada, many hosted by municipal libraries, have been targeted by a deluge of hateful comments and threats during Pride month, prompting multiple police investigations and renewed concerns about the safety of the LGBTQ community. Source

  • The pandemic upset how we assess students. Experts worry that's also hampered recovery efforts

    Canada News CBC News
    Some young learners are struggling to build early reading skills while others stumble over math concepts. Repeated pandemic pivots have left students out of practice with classroom learning, impacted their mental health and distanced them from peers. Source

  • Canada can now seize, sell off Russian assets. What's next?

    Canada News CBC News
    Selling Russian-owned assets to pay for Ukraine's reconstruction may sound like a logical approach to restitution, but as the Canadian government gains new powers to begin this process, questions remain about how it will work, and whether some issues are headed to court. Source

  • Parents, caregivers face new juggling act as employers evaluate work-from-home policies

    Canada News CBC News
    There's no daily commute for Amy McQuaid-England these days. That's because she's advising clients on social media matters from her home in Brighton, Ont., without having to cross her doorstep. The communications professional said this "life-changing" style of flexible work allows her to manage the needs of her young family while also managing her business. Source

  • Zelensky expected to ask for more support in address to G7 leaders

    World News CBC News
    The ongoing war in Ukraine will move from being an distant conflict to something more tangible for the leaders of the world's seven wealthiest democracies on Monday with an address by the embattled country's president. Volodymyr Zelensky said he's going to tell G7 leaders that despite their efforts to arms his country and to isolate the regime of Russia President Vladimir Putin, more needs to be done — and fast. Source

  • Quebec family forms a special bond with physician after death of their youngest son

    Canada News CBC News
    Twinkle lights spiral around the trunks of tall spruce trees outside the Dwyer-Odell home in Arundel, a village in the Laurentians, north of Montreal. A wind chime hanging from a branch tinkles. Dozens of wooden hearts, each holding a message for Brayden Odell and his family, decorate the boughs. Source

  • Connecting Indigenous inmates to their culture: Grand Chief performs at Manitoba prison

    Canada News CTV News
    Behind prison walls, National Indigenous People’s Day was celebrated this month, with inmates at a Manitoba federal prison granted access to music, drumming and sharing circles — positive steps forward to reconnect Indigenous inmates with their culture and rehabilitate a group that is incarcerated at a disproportionate rate. Source