Canada readies for first batch of refugees

Canada is preparing to welcome its first batch of Syrian refugees as the US debates the issue.

Canada's first government chartered flight carrying Syrian refugees will arrive in Toronto within a day.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's fast-track program of resettling 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end of February comes at a time of intense debate in the West - particularly since the deadly attacks in Paris last month and California last week.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has called for blocking Muslims from entering the US and some Republican candidates and governors have called for keeping out Syrian refugees.

Trudeau announced the first plane will arrive on Thursday evening. Immigration Minister John McCallum says there's far greater support in Canada than the US for the refugees.


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Source: AAP



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