Minister: Italian Grandmothers and Conference

minister: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with London Mayor Sadiq Khan at the Global Progress conference Thursday in Montreal. "There are districts where Italian grandmothers still pretty much only speak Italian and don't speak that much French or English, according to Huffington Post Canada. But their kids and grandkids are seamlessly and completely integrated into Montreal and the only difference is they tend to be trilingual and not just bilingual." The prime minister was taking part in a day-long conference hosted by Canada 2020, which describes itself as a progressive think-tank. Being fearful of immigrants is "nothing new" in Canada and around the world, he said, explaining that Italians and Greeks settling in Montreal in the 1950s faced similar kinds of discrimination as do Muslims and other immigrants today. "The first generation is always going to have challenges in integrating," Trudeau said during a panel discussion with London Mayor Sadiq Khan. Asked by the panel moderator what can be done to reduce fear of and discrimination against newcomers, Trudeau replied that what happening in Canada and around the world is "nothing new." This country didn't happen by accident' Italians and Greeks who settled in the northern part of Montreal and in other Canadian cities "faced tremendous discrimination, tremendous distrust." "This country didn't happen by accident," Trudeau continued. "And it won't continue without effort. Trudeau also referred to his time visiting places of worship around the country such as mosques and temples. When we think about integration and success we can't be overly impatient." He said citizens should "keep a solid pressure" to ensure human rights and the country Charter of Rights and Freedoms are respected by all Canadians. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.