Defying the sentiment in the Western world after the Paris attacks and California shooting, Trudeau’s presence at the airport sent out a message to the world that Canada has a distinct foreign policy that is neither influenced by the neighboring superpower nor by the wider transatlantic world
Tazeen Hasan | Special to Caravan Daily
OTTAWA — The warm welcome offered by Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to the first planeload of Syrian refugees has earned the country a global leadership role especially over the controversy surrounding the refugee crisis.
Defying the sentiment in the Western world after the Paris attacks and California shooting, Trudeau’s presence at the airport sent out a message to the world that Canada has a distinct foreign policy that is neither influenced by the neighboring superpower nor by the wider transatlantic world.
The headlines of Trudeau’s warmly greeting Syrian refugees flooded the international media on Friday. The newspapers around the world were overwhelmed by the reports of the Canadian prime minister helping the ‘New Canadians’ put on their winter gears provided to them at the airport.
Even the US media outlets obsessed with Islamophobic and hate-mongering rhetorics of Donald Trump, showered lavish praise on the neighbor.
Russia’s state-sponsored popular outlet RT commented, “Canada is bucking the trend seen in anti-immigrant countries such as the US and Norway – and rolling out the welcome wagon for refugees landing in their international airports.
“Canada’s generosity – and Mr. Trudeau’s personal warmth and leadership – can serve as a beacon for others,” said the New York Times in an editorial on Saturday.
“The arrival of the military flight carrying 163 refugees on Thursday stands in stark contrast to the US,” pronounced the Guardian.
The US commentators illustrated the comparisons of the humane and compassionate Canadian policies with the angry anti-refugee politics in their own country.
The Washington Post surprised the world by comparing the public support for Syrian refugees in both countries citing the polls which show 53 percent of the US citizens support Syrian refugees’ resettlement as compared to 48 percent Canadians.
However, political overtones across the border are entirely different where a presidential campaign has been whipped up by xenophobic rants against the Muslims and the newly elected Prime Minister is welcoming the refugees on the airport.
In the aftermath of Paris attacks that were linked to the Islamic state extremists, half of the state Governors across the United States opposed the settlement of Syrian refugees and closed off their states to resettled Syrian refugees. But unlike US, Canada’s 13 provincial and territorial premiers “are on board” with federal government’s resettlement plan.
Los Angeles Times featured an interview of former Canadian Cabinet minister Perrin Beatty who remembers when he was part of a government that accepted more than 60,000 refugees who fled the Vietnam War for Canada in 1979 and 1980. “We are unleashing an enormous amount of positive energy to look at how to welcome these people here,” said Beatty talking to LA Times.
“Canada’s programs are an expression of support to Syrian refugees, but importantly for us they are a demonstration, too, of solidarity to countries in the region hosting more than four million Syrian refugees,” said Adrian Edwards, a UN spokesperson in a Reuters report.
“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,” commented Trudeau shortly before the landing of the plane.
Despite much heated Islamophobic discourse and hate mongering against Syrian refugees in international media after the Paris and California attacks, and the rumors that refugee settlement will not be possible by deadline, Trudeau has fulfilled his commitment signaling to Canadian citizens that he is serious about what he said in his electoral campaign.
“Tonight matters not just for Canada but for the world,” said Trudeau welcoming the Syrian refugees.