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Once, it was the poor folk of Syria – a country that’s become the equivalent of an all-you-can-eat buffet for the world’s military machines. Famously, our prime minister opened the doors for many refugees of that conflict and, in a mix of governmental and private action, about 45,000 people were resettled in Canada.

But that was then, this is now. Private refugee groups, many of them faith-based organizations with resettlement processes in place, say things have changed. Delays are now the norm and the welcome tap is tight.

If this was policy then, fair enough. If the government decided we’ve enough on our plate resettling those already here, then that’s both valid and sensible.

But don’t kid yourself. Syrians were yesterday’s news. Suddenly, we were handed an even better grandstanding platform when Donald Trump started threatening to shut his country’s borders and kick “illegals” out in his typically cruel and ham-fisted manner.

Trudeau couldn’t resist responding, hence the hashtag “WelcometoCanada” and his tweet: “to those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength.”

The world went gaga over comparison with Terrible Trump. Not surprisingly, those poor people in the U.S. surviving on temporary visas or living off the grid, suddenly imagined a better life north of the border.

They started flooding in. First, it was mainly Haitians, while today, Nigerians make up the bulk of this ever-increasing flow. Border officials are now poised for an influx of El Salvadorians if the U.S. follows through and clamps down on those folk.