picture imperfect

I truly enjoyed reading Kamal Al-solaylee’s feature (“Unwelcome to Canada,” April), in which he questions Canada’s reluctance to accept refugees from Yemen, host to one of the gravest humanitarian crises today. The fact that the Yemeni refugees Al-solaylee spoke to constructed their understanding of Justin Trudeau and his policies based on videos and speeches underscores the integral role of image for the prime minister. Trudeau has come to be seen as asaviour of liberal democracy in the face of growing nationalism and xenophobia in many other parts of the world. But let’s remember that Canada, compared to many European and Middle Eastern countries, can more easily choose who crosses its borders seeking asylum. Just as important, actions often fail to follow the prime minister’s grand rhetoric. Like the rest of world, these Yemeni refugees are placing too much hope in our prime minister. Marie Lamensch Montreal, QC