Date11/12/2015 05:51 Duration00:01:36 Edit No5075 Copyright(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp RestrictionsBroadcasters: NO ACCESS CANADA, Digital: NO ACCESS CANADA For Reuters customers only. No use/digital display after 10/Jan/2016 05:44 LocationsNo-Data-Available SourceCBC Revision1 TopicAsylum/Immigration/Refugees,Government/Politics Source News FeedsNVO IDtag:reuters.com,2015:newsml_OV3DEQHD7:1 Canada prepares to welcome first Syrian refugees Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau awaits the arrival of the first plane bringing Syrian refugees to Canada. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION) After months of promises and weeks of preparation, the first planeload of Syrian refugees was headed to Canada on Thursday, aboard a military plane to be met by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. At the Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga, Trudeau told airport staff and media that the night was a significant night not only for Canada but for the world. “This is a wonderful night, where we get to show not just a planeload of new Canadians what Canada is all about, but we get to show the world how to open our hearts and welcome in people who are fleeing extraordinarily difficult situations. But it’s not just about receiving them tonight, it’s about the hard work we are all going to do in the coming weeks, months and indeed years to ensure that everyone who passes through here tonight and in the weeks and months to come, are able to build a life for themselves, for their family, and also contribute fully to the continued growth of this extraordinary country,” he said. “This is something that we are able to do in this country because we define a Canadian not by a skin colour, or a language, or a religion, or a background, but by a shared set of values, aspirations, hopes and dreams that not just Canadians but people around the world share,” he added. After the news conference, Trudeau posed for photos with airport staff as they awaited the refugees’ arrival. First planeload of Syrian refugees arrives in Canada The first planeload of Syrian refugees lands in Toronto to a warm greeting by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau himself. RESENDING WITH FULL SCRIPT SHOWS: TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA (DECEMBER 11, 2015) (CBC - BROADCASTERS: NO ACCESS CANADA DIGITAL: NO ACCESS CANADA) 1. VARIOUS OF SYRIAN REFUGEES SEATED AT TORONTO AIRPORT 2. SYRIAN REFUGEES ARRIVING IN AIRPORT TERMINAL 3. CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU GREETING SYRIAN REFUGEES 4. TRUDEAU GREETING LITTLE GIRL 5. MORE SYRIAN REFUGEES WALKING IN TO BE GREETED BY TRUDEAU 6. TRUDEAU PUTTING PURPLE COAT ON GIRL 7. TRUDEAU SMILING 8. LITTLE GIRL SURROUNDED BY PHOTOGRAPHERS 9. MAN PUTTING ON BLACK COAT, TRUDEAU HELPING STORY: After months of promises and weeks of preparation, the first Canadian government planeload of Syrian refugees landed in Toronto on Thursday (December 10), aboard a military aircraft met by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Trudeau was elected to a surprise majority in October promising to accept more refugees more quickly than the previous Conservative government. Trudeau’s Liberal government scaled back the number of Syrian migrants it will accept by year end after the attacks in Paris sparked concern that the election promise to bring in 25,000 by Dec. 31 would not allow enough time for security checks. The plane carrying 163 Syrian refugees touched down in Toronto just before midnight on Thursday and will be followed by a second military airlift to Montreal on Saturday (December 12). Trudeau has said 10,000 will be resettled by the end of the year and a further 15,000 by the end of February. As Trudeau met the military aircraft amid tight security at a special terminal, privately sponsored Syrian refugees were arriving on commercial flights at Toronto’s main terminal, greeted by sponsors and ordinary Canadians who had come to the airport to welcome the much-anticipated newcomers. Toronto’s airport authority urged Canadians not to come to the airport to greet the refugees or drop off donations, saying: “We’re so proud that our community wants to help, but such a response would be very overwhelming for those arriving.” Toronto’s mayor tweeted a welcome, while the Toronto Star, the country’s largest newspaper, covered its front page with a “Welcome to Canada” banner headline in English and Arabic, along with an article explaining Canadian weather, ice hockey and slang. The reception in Canada contrasted sharply with that of the neighboring United States, where fear of Syrian refugees following the deadly Nov. 13 Paris attacks spurred opposition to allowing them entry. Some U.S. governors said their states would not accept Syrian refugees. With security concerns, immigration paperwork and the flight’s late-night arrival, refugees on the military aircraft were to be put up at a nearby hotel for the night before meeting their sponsors and resettlement agencies on Friday (December 11).