PM balances welcoming message to newcomers with emphasis on immigration rules
KELOWNA, B.C. — Justin Trudeau says there’s nothing inconsistent about touting Canada as a welcoming country that embraces immigrants and refugees while simultaneously trying to head off another wave of irregular arrivals.
Indeed, the prime minister insisted Thursday that emphasizing openness to newcomers while insisting that immigration rules be followed “are not two separate things.”
Canadians embrace newcomers precisely because they have confidence in the integrity of the immigration system, he argued.
“Canadians are open because they know that immigration has been a success because of those rules, because of the support, because of the investments we make in integration,” Trudeau said as he wrapped up a two-day Liberal caucus retreat to plot strategy for the resumption of Parliament later this month.