Welcoming Syrian Refugees to Canada: Behind the Scenes at the Toronto Pearson International Airport

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Dec. 8, 2015) - Canada Border Services Agency

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), in close collaboration with other Government of Canada departments and partners such as the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, today invited media to visit the temporary port of entry that has been set up at the Toronto Pearson International Airport.

To ensure efficient and thorough processing that will allow Syrian refugees to move on to the important work of settling in their new communities, temporary ports-of-entry have been specially designed to accommodate new arrivals at Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport and Toronto Pearson International Airport.

These temporary ports-of-entry allow for:

• The processing of all passengers on a flight within three to four hours
  
  
• Waiting areas where water and food are provided
  
  
• A baggage screening area
  
  

In addition to CBSA border services officers who will confirm refugees' documentation and admit them to Canada as permanent residents, a number of other partners also have stations at the temporary port-of-entry, including:

• Service Canada, where refugees will apply for their Social Insurance Numbers and other identification;
  
  
• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, where photos will be taken for their immigration identification documents;
  
  
• Public Health Agency of Canada quarantine officers, who will assess any passenger who is or appears to be ill, both prior and after the CBSA processing
  
  
• Canadian Food Inspection Agency presence to ensure passengers don't bring in any food, plants, animals or animal related products that could affect Canada's biosecurity
  
  

These temporary ports-of-entry in Montreal and Toronto are expected to remain functional until the end of February.

Quotes

"With our many partners, we have worked to make new arrivals as comfortable as possible, while protecting the integrity of the arrival process. We are quite pleased with the results."

Regional Director General, Goran Vragovic

Associated Links

Airport Receiving areas and Welcome Centres

CBSA Border Watch Toll-free Line

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