By Judi McLeod ——Bio and Archives--January 30, 2017
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#BienvenueAuCanada pic.twitter.com/rUhrIXiFcR
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 28, 2017
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
“A spokesman for Chancellor Angela Merkel says the German leader believes the Trump’s travel ban on people from some Muslim-majority countries is wrong. “After meeting on Saturday, the foreign ministers of both nations, Jean-Marc Ayrault and Germany's Sigmar Gabriel, said they hope to meet with the Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson. “Ayrault said Trump's order on Friday that banning refugees "can only worry us."
"We have signed international obligations, so welcoming refugees fleeing war and oppression forms part of our duties," the French minister said. "There are many other issues that worry us," he added. "That is why Sigmar and I also discussed what we are going to do. When our colleague, Tillerson, is officially appointed, we will both contact him.” “Gabriel said offering refuge to the persecuted are western values that Europe and the United States share. "Love thy neighbor is part of this tradition, the act of helping others," he said. "This unites us, we Westerners. And I think that this remains a common foundation that we share with the United States, one we aim to promote.” “Trump said the ban was necessary in preventing "radical Islamic terrorists" from entering the U.S.”At this stage, with Canada, France and Germany lined up against him, President Trump could be the only western leader who cares about preventing "radical Islamic terrorists" from entering the U.S.”
“Merkel and Trump spoke on Saturday for the first time since his inauguration.”Oddly enough no mention of the hyped-up travel ban or refugees was mentioned in their joint U.S.-German statement following the call.
“Germany's dpa news agency quoted Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert saying Sunday that "she is convinced that even the necessary, resolute fight against terrorism doesn't justify putting people of a particular origin or particular faith under general suspicion.” (FoxNews)Meanwhile, a misconstrued misunderstanding of Canadian citizens holding citizenship in countries targeted by President Trump had Prime Minister Trudeau in a panic flap yesterday. “A National Security Adviser in the U.S. confirmed that holders of Canadian passports, including dual citizens, will not be affected by the travel ban signed by Donald Trump. (Toronto Star, Jan 28., 17)
“Canadian citizens will be allowed to enter the United States even if they also hold citizenship in countries targeted by President Donald Trump’s travel ban, a top Trump adviser told the Canadian government late Saturday. “The word from National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, relayed to the media by Canada’s Washington embassy, ended a day of confusion and turmoil over a vaguely worded Trump policy that had appeared to ensnare tens of thousands of Canadian citizens and abandon 150 years of border tradition. “The prime minister instructed our National Security Adviser, Daniel Jean, who was in touch over the course of the day with NSA Flynn to seek further clarification,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office told reporters. “Flynn confirmed that holders of Canadian passports, including dual citizens, will not be affected by the ban. We have been assured that Canadian citizens travelling on Canadian passports will be dealt with in the usual process.” “The Friday order had left Trudeau scrambling not only to develop an appropriate response but to figure out what exactly was happening. And it left Canadian communities confused, alarmed and furious, reassessing both their travel plans and their sense of their place on the continent.”Meanwhile, Prime Minister Trudeau, whose popularity poll hovers at 30%, has emerged as the go-to savior for "radical Islamic terrorists”seeking safe harbor. Where this will eventually take Canada’s $2-billion-a-day business with the U.S. is an unknown. But one thing is certain: The Canada-U.S. relationship entered a new era with a Tweet sent out by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, 3:20 p.m., yesterday.
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