TORONTO: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has a message for refugees rejected by US President Donald Trump: “Canada will take you”.
He also intends to talk to Trump about the success of Canada’s refugee policy.
Trudeau reacted to Trump’s ban of Muslims from certain countries by tweeting Saturday.
“To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength” Trudeau tweeted.
Trudeau also posted a picture of him greeting a Syrian child at Toronto’s airport in late 2015. Trudeau oversaw the arrival of more than 39,000 Syrian refugees soon after he was elected.
A spokeswoman for Trudeau said Trudeau has a message for Trump.
“The Prime Minister is looking forward to discussing the successes of Canada’s immigration and refugee policy with the President when they next speak,” Trudeau spokeswoman Kate Purchase told media.
The prime minister has refrained from criticizing Trump to avoid offending the new president. More than 75 percent of Canada’s exports go to the U.S.
Toronto Mayor John Tory also weighed in, noting that the city is the most diverse in the world.
“We understand that as Canadians we are almost all immigrants, and that no one should be excluded on the basis of their ethnicity or nationality,” Tory said in a statement.
