Backlash In Canada Over The Appointment Of An Honorary Syrian Consul Who Supports Assad

Ramli's Hummer is decorated with an Assad decal, Syrian flag and licence plate that reads 1SYRIA. (Waseem Ramli/Facebook)

Reuters: Canada's Freeland shocked by her department's approval of Assad ally to consulate

The appointment has upset and frightened the Syrian refugee community, according to two Syrian community activists. Canada and several other countries cut diplomatic ties with Syria in 2012 after the Houla massacre killed dozens of people. Syria maintains two honorary consul offices in Vancouver and Montreal.

Canada’s Maclean’s magazine reported on Monday that Montreal businessman Waseem Ramli, a supporter and ally of Assad’s regime, was appointed to the Montreal consul position.

The appointment, put forward by the Syrian government and approved by Global Affairs Canada, as the country’s foreign ministry is known, will take effect on Oct 1.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Good question .... Why did the Trudeau government approve Bashar al-Assad’s man in Montreal? (Macleans).

More News On Backlash In Canada Over The Appointment Of An Honorary Syrian Consul Who Supports Assad

Freeland vows swift response to 'unacceptable' appointment of pro-Assad official in Montreal -- CBC
'Unacceptable': Freeland responds to appointment of honorary Syrian consul who supports Assad -- CTV News
Chrystia Freeland 'shocked' by pro-Assad views of Canada's new Syrian consul -- National Post
Andrew Scheer calls appointment of Syrian consul in Montreal ‘outrageous’ -- Global News/Canadian Press
Syria's pro-Assad representative in Montreal says he will serve everyone, regardless of political views -- CBC

Arab Media Is Saying That Canada Will Take In 100,000 Palestinians

Palestinian refugee camp in Beirut, Lebanon [Professor Kamel Hawwash]

Jerusalem Post: Canada denies Arab media report it will take in 100,000 Palestinians

According to report, Canada would receive 100,000 Palestinians from Lebanon and Syria and Spain would receive 16,000 Palestinians from Lebanon, alongside similar agreements with Belgium and France.

Canada denied a report in the Lebanon-based newspaper Al Akhbar on Wednesday according to which the country has reached an understanding with the United States that it will receive 100,000 Palestinians (40,000 from Lebanon and another 60,000 from Syria).

The Lebanese paper quoted a source in a Palestinian faction. The paper claimed that there is a further understanding with Spain to receive 16,000 Palestinians from Lebanon, alongside similar agreements with Belgium and France. The understandings would lead to the reduction of the cost of migration from $12,000 to $7,000 per person.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: I first heard about this over the weekend. And now the Israeli press is reporting on it. The Canadian government has denied these reports, but this is not surprising since there is going to be an election in seven weeks, and the issue of open borders does not poll well with Trudeau's government. I personally believe there is some truth to this. In the past three years Canada has opened the doors to tens of thousands of refugees from the Middle East, so why not more. There is also the perception in the Middle East that Canada will accept refugees unconditionally. Prime Minister Trudeau himself opened the door to all refugees in 2017 (see below tweet).

To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength #WelcomeToCanada

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 28, 2017

Prime Minister Trudeau: Canada Will Not Participate In Airstrikes On Syria

President Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the White House. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

WNU Editor: I live in Canada, and there is no support in this country to get involved in this possible attack .... Canadian PM Justin Trudeau rules out airstrikes in Syria (UPI).