Wynne confirms Ontario's commitment to Syrian refugees

Premier Kathleen Wynne today reconfirmed Ontario's commitment to welcome Syrian refugees fleeing civil war in their country.

"We are an inclusive and open society. Except for our aboriginal people, we all came from somewhere else," Wynne said to a group of reporters at Queen's Park on Tuesday.

Wynne reminded Ontarians that many people came to Canada as refugees.

She said her government will do everything it can to help the federal government live up to its commitment to bring 25,000 refugees to Canada before year's end.   

Wynne's government pledges to settle 10,000 refugees in Ontario by the end of 2016.

The premier says refugees can be brought to Ontario safely while at the same time making sure security provisions are in place.

Wynne also asked that Ontarians be vigilant in their communities, and not let Friday's terrorist attacks in Paris trigger hatred and racism here.

"I think this is actually a time we need to reach out to our Muslim neighbours and friends and recognize that the acts that took place in Paris were acts of terrorism and not born of religion but of some other genesis, some other hateful motivation," said Wynne.

• Mosque arson 'totally out of character,' says mayor of Peterborough, Ont.

Wynne's comment comes after a Peterborough mosque was set on fire Saturday.

Police are investigating the arson attack as a hate crime.