Minister Justin Trudeau and Canada

Syrian refugees: With the new Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau vowing to press ahead with its campaign promise to bring 25,000 Syrian refugees to Canada by year end, questions about security checks for the newcomers have frequently curdled into something much less benign. "What we can't give in to, I think, is allowing security to mask racism," Wynne said to loud applause at the Canada2020 policy conference in Ottawa, with Couillard nodding agreement. "We have those two devils within our society: racism and xenophobia, according to Huffington Post Canada. They exist." "That the danger and that somehow talking about security allows us to tap into that racist vein, when that isn't who we are," Wynne said. The unvarnished caution from Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard and Ontario Kathleen Wynne follows days of disturbing incidents involving aggression towards Canadian Muslims in the wake of the deadly Paris terrorist attacks that claimed at least 130 lives last week. Couillard said Canada is not uniquely better or worse than any other society. "We have those two devils within our society: racism and xenophobia. The Paris terrorist attacks, for which Islamic extremists have claimed responsibility, combined with Trudeau logistically daunting plan for the speedy acceptance of Syrian refugees, has proven a potent cocktail that reignited the worst of the election debate and more. They exist," said the Quebec premier. "And it is the responsibility of political leaders - and I got into trouble a few days ago because I said that publicly - it is the responsibility of political leaders not to feed the fire in a very negative way." The 11-week federal election campaign that resulted in a resounding Liberal majority last month included highly charged debates over the wearing of face-coverings by less than a handful of Muslim women at citizenship swearing-in ceremonies and a Conservative proposal for a "barbaric cultural practices" hotline where it was suggested neighbours might report suspect behaviour. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.