John McCallum makes surprise visit to Syrian refugee camps in Lebanon

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister John McCallum made an unannounced visit on Fridayto a refugee camp in thetown of Ghaziyehin southern Lebanonnear the port city of Sidon.

"I wanted to see the refugees with my own eyes, talk to them, welcome them in advance to Canada," McCallum said in Lebanon."I also wanted to make sure weare on track to bring the number of people we want to bring, by the time we want to bring them."

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This was McCallum's first visit to Lebanon as Canada intensifies efforts to resettle 10,000 Syrian refugees by year's end. Approximately 1,200 refugees have arrived in the country since Nov. 4., according to the most recent figures posted on the government of Canada website.

In a written statement issued after his visit, McCallum said "the work being done on the ground here in Lebanon by Canadians and others is enormous."

"We are making a very real difference in the lives of so many Syrian refugees who have gone through such hardship. Those who come to Canada can expect a warm welcome and an opportunity to be successful in their new home," said McCallum in a written statement Friday afternoon.

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McCallumwas given a tour of the operations centre by Canadian officials and embassy staff. He saw first-handwhere Syrian refugees will undergo a medical exam and security screeningprior to their departure.

He also spoke with a number of Syrian families who were at the centre waiting to find out if they passedall security checks and medical screening.

Governor General greets Syrian refugees in Toronto

News of McCallum's visit was made public just as Gov.Gen.David Johnston wasat Pearson International Airport in Torontoto welcome about 200 Syrian refugees arriving from Beirut.

Johnston wasaccompanied by his wife, Sharon, their daughter Alex Johnston and four grandchildren Tea, 9, Georgia, 6, Sadie, 6, and Lucas, 5.

The chartered flight includeda mix ofgovernment-sponsoredandprivatelysponsored refugees.

The Governor General spoke with Canadianofficialsas he waited for refugees to pass various healthand security checks, and he thankedService Canada staff responsible for issuing social insurance numbers to the newrefugees.

He also shook hands with an interpreter on hand to help the refugees and tried out a few words of Arabic, including the word "welcome."

Johnston's grandchildren alsopractiseda few phrases in Arabic.

He shook hands with staff at a welcomecentre who gave him winter coats and teddy bears to hand out to the Syrian families and their small children.

Johnston'sgrandchildrenwere given their own teddy bears by staff.

Refugees greeted by Governor General

9 years ago

Duration 1:50

Gov. Gen. David Johnston welcomes 200 Syrian refugees arriving in Toronto from Beirut