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

  • Eight-year-old B.C. boy wins award for BMX GoPro video

    Canada News CTV News
    An eight-year-old BMX athlete from Abbotsford, B.C., has become an online sensation and won an award from the camera company GoPro for a video he made of himself riding a bike. In the 90 second video, the GoPro camera faces Rex Johnson’s face as he provides a running commentary of a ride with his friend Jack, capturing his open-mouthed and wide-eyed facial expressions as he barrels down the track and tackles jumps. Source

  • Prince William begins politically delicate Mideast trip

    World News CTV News
    AMMAN, Jordan -- Prince William has kicked off a politically delicate five-day tour of Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian territories, planning to meet with young people, refugees and political leaders in a tumultuous region once controlled by Britain. Source

  • Five people taken to hospital for overdoses at electronic music festival

    Canada News CTV News
    OTTAWA - Paramedics say five people were taken to hospital with apparent drug overdoses on the first day of Escapade, an electronic dance music festival in Ottawa. The Ottawa Paramedic Service says one of the patients was in critical condition and another was in serious condition on Saturday. Source

  • Optimism and strife to greet Canadian peacekeepers as they arrive in Mali

    Canada News CTV News
    BAMAKO, Mali -- When Canada's first peacekeepers to this West African nation arrive at their new home Sunday, they will find a country riven by rampant poverty, internal divisions and strife -- but where sprigs of optimism exist. Source

  • US Defence chief to visit China amid South China Sea tensions

    World News CTV News
    BEIJING -- U.S. Defence Secretary Jim Mattis, who has accused China of "intimidation and coercion" in the South China Sea, visits Beijing this week as the countries increasingly spar over U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and Beijing's expanding military presence overseas. Source

  • Spain rescues 569 migrants as EU discusses influx

    World News CBC News
    Spanish authorities have released video of some of the 569 migrants they rescued after they crossed the Mediterranean in 25 leaky dinghies and a canoe. The migrants, thought to be mainly from North Africa, were found Friday night and into Saturday morning, Spain's Maritime Rescue Service said. Source

  • A dozen Canadian peacekeepers arrive in Mali as yearlong mission begins

    Canada News CTV News
    GAO, Mali -- About a dozen Canadian troops landed at a UN base in Mali this morning, marking the official start of a yearlong mission to the West African nation and a new era in Canada's long history of peacekeeping. Source

  • UK euroskeptics urge PM May to prepare for 'no deal' Brexit

    World News CTV News
    LONDON -- Pro-Brexit politicians and business figures have urged British Prime Minister Theresa May to be ready to walk away from the European Union without a trade agreement, despite warnings from major manufacturers that a "no deal" Brexit would be an economic disaster. Source

  • 5 taken to hospital for overdoses at Escapade Music Festival in Ottawa

    Canada News CBC News
    Five people were taken to hospital to be treated for overdoses on Saturday during the Escapade Music Festival in Ottawa. Paramedics say one person is in critical and another is in serious condition because of overdoses involving GHB, a common street drug, which has the potential to be fatal. Source

  • Toronto Pride Parade to kick off amid tensions between LGBTQ community, police

    Canada News CTV News
    TORONTO -- Swaths of Toronto will burst with colour today as LGBTQ revellers hit the streets for the Pride Parade against a backdrop of tensions between the community and the city's police force. More than 120 groups will march along the downtown route in this year's parade -- but uniformed officers won't be among them. Source