HANSARD: Does the Prime Minister really think Minister Sajjan’s incompetence is acceptable?
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Oral Questions
April 27th, 2023 / 2:45 p.m.
Oral Questions
April 27th, 2023 / 2:45 p.m.
Jenny Kwan Vancouver East, BC
NDP
Mr. Speaker, in committee, we found out that the former chief of staff to the past minister of defence provided a senator an altered official government document to bring Afghans to safety. We found out that the minister was copied on all communications. Shockingly, the minister said he was too busy at the time to check his personal government email account. Almost two years later, he says he still has not checked.
How is this even possible? Does the Prime Minister really think this is acceptable?
Sean Fraser Minister of Immigration
Liberal
Mr. Speaker, the evacuation of Kabul was an absolute crisis situation. The response by the Government of Canada during that time saved thousands of lives. I am pleased to share with members of the House that, today, there are more than 30,000 vulnerable Afghan refugees who have received a second lease on life.
When it comes to the issuance of facilitation letters, we used those to move people through Taliban checkpoints. They were not intended for people to arrive in Canada. When we became aware of the use of inauthentic letters, we shared them with law enforcement to conduct an independent investigation. It was the responsible thing to do.
