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A young father has asked the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, how returning ISIS fighters are going to benefit Canada, and how he will ensure the safety of future Canadians. The questioner asked:

I just want to know how your stance on ISIS is going to help Canadians in any way. I need to know how you’re going to protect future Canadians like my young daughter, in ten, fifteen, twenty years from now, when you’re letting people in with an ideology that just does not conform to what we’re doing here.

Trudeau responded by suggesting all immigrants are resisted at first because of their differences, but every wave of immigration has made Canada a better place – so, why should we expect anything different from returning ISIS fighters?

Every wave of immigration has received push-back because of how they dressed, or how they sound, or what their belief was, or what their religion was, and every wave of immigration has led to Canada being a better, stronger, more resilient, richer country. And that, I know, is not changing…

And how does Trudeau answer the obvious safety concerns? Well, according to the Prime Minister, you don’t protect your people by keeping ISIS fighters away, but rather, by including them and integrating them into your community.

The way we ensure that we are keeping our community safe happens not through building walls or thickening boarders, metaphorically. It happens through engaging and giving people pathways to success. It comes through integration and language training and skills training and it comes through our wonderful high schools and public education that allows for kids of all different backgrounds to learn from each other, to grow together, and to work together to build stronger communities. That has been the story of Canada and it is not one that is in contrast with creating a safer community for your daughter, for our neighbours, for anyone. The safety actually comes through having community that are resilient and diverse and talk to each other and understand each other and look out for each other and are welcoming towards each other. That is how you build a stronger more successful society.

The full response can be viewed in the video below.


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