MONTREAL – UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is in Montreal to meet with Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard and Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre, in separate events.
The Secretary General started his day in Ottawa, meeting with Governor General David Johnston at Rideau Hall, before travelling to Montreal.
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Ban said in Montreal that Canada’s decision to welcome 25,000 refugees may be a small number, but it’s a huge example of international solidarity.
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He said Canada has shown compassionate leadership and generosity and that more developed countries should be helping to shoulder the responsibility of caring for Syria’s displaced people.
Ban added he met about 40 Syrian refugees on Thursday during a visit to Canada’s Parliament in Ottawa.
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He said the refugees were very happy knowing their lives had been protected and their human dignity respected.
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Ban will also visit the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the UN agency based in Montreal, and give an address at McGill University.
During a gala dinner Thursday night in the nation’s capital, Ban praised Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for what he called his “dynamic leadership.”
He joked that Trudeau may already be more popular than his father, former Prime Minister Pierre-Elliott Trudeau.
* with files from The Canadian Press.