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The sudden influx of asylum-seekers entering Canada from the U.S. is a crisis for the Trudeau government. Not because Canada can’t handle a few thousand more arrivals, but because the Liberals have a halo to protect.

The halo is in grave danger. When Canadians were desperate to be seen helping Syrians escape the madness in their home country, Candidate Trudeau made clear that the Liberals would welcome them with open arms. He made a show of turning up at Pearson airport in Toronto to be photographed with grateful families. The Liberals basked in the glow of approval their magnanimity attracted around the world. “We’re Canadian, and we’re here to help.”

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The Liberals basked in the glow of approval their magnanimity attracted around the world

But opinion has shifted. Canadians are still pleased to have been of use in the Syrian crisis, but they’re not feeling as warm-hearted about the latest arrivals, which are mainly Haitians entering Quebec. Haiti is not a war zone; it’s easy to see why Haitians would prefer the prosperity and opportunities of Canada to the hopelessness of their own country, but Haiti’s government isn’t dropping barrel bombs on its population, or gassing them in their homes. And much as Canadians may despise Donald Trump, the U.S. remains a law-abiding democracy that offered help to the Haitians when they needed it. Those seeking to cross into Quebec aren’t doing so because their lives are in danger, but because the protective status they’ve enjoyed in the U.S. expires next year and they fear they’ll be sent home. They figure they have a better chance of a decent life in Canada than the U.S. under the current administration.