WASHINGTON—A Canadian politician offered a positive view of the country’s experiences with Syrian refugees during a July 11 briefing session south of the border, where the current political climate is far less welcoming of migrants.
Arif Virani shared some observations about Canada’s experience during a briefing session on Capitol Hill attended by a number of U.S. congressional staffers and moderated by the Washington bureau chief of The Economist magazine.
Virani, the parliamentary secretary for immigration, was asked about a recent cover story in the New York Times headlined, “Refugees Encounter a Foreign Word: Welcome.” The moderator, David Rennie, asked, “Why is Canada so different?”
Virani responded by referring to various factors, including the role of Canadian media in sharing positive stories about the refugees, like those who helped with fundraising in the aftermath of the Alberta forest fires.
