Canada to take 25,000 refugees in 2015 despite Paris attacks

By Barry Ellsworth

TRENTON, Ont.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday that Canada would still take in 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end of 2015 despite the Paris attacks and concerns by some provincial premiers.

As well, Trudeau said while Canada will no longer participate in coalition airstrikes against Daesh, it would increase the number of troops to help train local soldiers to fight the militants.

Speaking to reporters on a flight to the Philippines from the G20 Summit in Turkey, Trudeau said Canadians already knew security was a priority before the Paris attacks.

“It didn’t take the tragedy in Paris for us to suddenly realize that security’s important,” he said. “We’ve known for a long time and we continue to be very much committed to keeping Canadians safe while we do the right thing to engage responsibly on this humanitarian crisis.”

Trudeau reiterated his campaign promise on the refugee acceptance after some provincial premiers, including Brad Wall of Saskatchewan, said the deadline of year’s end should be scrapped to ensure stringent security checks were instituted.

British Columbia Premier Christy Clarke and Toronto Mayor John Tory also urged caution on the deadline after it was learned that one or more of the Paris attackers – Daesh claimed responsibility – may have posed as refugees to enter France.

During the October election campaign that saw Trudeau and his Liberal Party swept into power, the prime minister had also promised to stop Canada’s participation in airstrikes.

That is still the plan, but Canada will increase its number of troops on the ground for training.

“Obviously we committed throughout the campaign and I’ve committed repeatedly to my allies that we were going to do more on the training front and that means obviously more than 69 (Canadian) trainers,” he said. He did not specify a number.

Trudeau is in the Philippines for the 21-country annual Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation Summit.

On Thursday, Trudeau will have his first face-to-face with U.S. President Barack Obama since his election victory. It is also the first meeting since Obama rejected the Canadian government-backed Trans-Canada Keystone XL pipeline.

As well, it will be the first time Trudeau has met Obama in person since the prime minister announced his decision for Canada to opt out of the U.S.-led airstrikes.