A warm welcome for a group of Afghan refugees who will now call Nova Scotia home.
A news release from the federal government says 265 former NATO employees and their families arrived at the Halifax airport on Wednesday.
It was just in time to catch our first major snowfall.
Roughly 100 refugees will remain in Nova Scotia, while the other families will be heading to their new homes across Canada.
(CREDIT: Halifax Stanfield International Airport)
Tim Houston posted a video to his Twitter page to welcome them home.
“Our province’s story is filled with people helping each other through times of hardship,” Houston says. “Now, you are a part of that story. On behalf of all Nova Scotians, welcome to your new home.”
Earlier today, roughly 100 refugees from Afghanistan touched down in Halifax.
Our province’s story is filled with people helping each other through times of hardship. Now, you are a part of that story.
On behalf of all Nova Scotians, welcome to your new home. pic.twitter.com/QnDMeBNgVm
— Tim Houston (@TimHoustonNS) December 9, 2021
The former NATO employees arrived in Canada from a third country where they had been temporarily living since leaving Afghanistan.
They were forced to leave their homes after the Taliban regained control.
“Canada is proud to welcome refugees who worked as NATO locally engaged staff in Afghanistan and whose lives were in danger as a result,” Immigration Minister and Central Nova MP Sean Fraser says in a news release. “To all the Afghans who arrived today [Wednesday], welcome home . . . They’re already starting their new lives in Canada, and I know Canadians are eager to make them feel at home.”
The federal government has vowed to welcome 15,000 people through a special humanitarian program for Afghan refugees.
