Waseem Ramli: Syrian Government

waseem ramli: Yet concerns are being raised about Waseem Ramli, who is poised to become the latest person to hold that title in Montreal after his nomination by the Syrian government was quietly approved by Global Affairs Canada over the summer, according to National Observer. Don't miss out on the latest news Sign up for our daily briefing That is despite Ramli's having repeatedly defended the Assad government on social media and railed against Western sanctions first imposed on Damascus after Assad began a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy activists in 2011. Since Canada severed diplomatic ties with Damascus in 2012, the Syrian government has maintained honorary consulates in Montreal and Vancouver ostensibly to assist Syrians with passports and other administrative issues. That crackdown eventually erupted into a civil war that, over the past eight years, has left hundreds of thousands dead and forced millions more to flee, including tens of thousands to Canada. I have personally spoken with Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland this morning, who has assured me that she is looking very carefully into how this has happened and will ensure that we have next steps to share with you soon, he said. Ramli has also described members of the White Helmets humanitarian organization as terrorists, according to Maclean's magazine, which first reported on the new consul's appointment. ; Speaking at a campaign event in Burnaby, B.C., on Tuesday, where he was unveiling part of the Liberal party's climate-change plan, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the government was quite seized with the issue. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.