Canada's new left-wing PM Justin Trudeau sworn in after pledging to take 25,000 refugees
CANADA'S new left-wing government has vowed to settle 25,000 Syrian refugees before the end of the year.
Canada's new prime minister Justin Trudeau has been sworn in
Liberal prime minister Justin Trudeau was sworn in yesterday after making the pledge a key part of his campaign.
His Conservative predecessor Stephen Harper came under pressure to accept more asylum seekers from war-torn Syria but refused.
Alan Kurdi, the three-year-old Syrian boy who was pictured dead on a beach in Turkey in September, had relatives in Canada.
I will be working very hard to achieve that goal
John McCallum, Trudeau's immigration minister, said the government is committed to delivering his promise.
He added: "I think we will find a great desire across the country to help us achieve this objective.
"I will be working very hard to achieve that goal."
Tragic Syrian boy Alan Kurdi had family in Canada
Trudeau launched a thinly veiled attack on Harper by promising a less-controlling style, saying: "Government by Cabinet is back."
Under Harper, Cabinet meetings were held in secret and ministers never spoke after them.
Trudeau – a 43-year-old former school teacher – is the second youngest prime minister in Canadian history, after Joe Clark.
His late father Pierre served as prime minister from 1968 to 1984 with a short interruption.
Pierre Trudeau was prime minister between 1968 and 1984
Trudeau added: "I think of my father and how pleased he must be that Canada so firmly came together around an ambitious vision for the country that we presented."
"But my thoughts today, sorry Dad, aren't mostly on him, but with my own kids and the kids across Canada.
"We are going to work very hard to ensure we have a better future."