HANSARD: Question on removing the immigration cap for Palestinian Canadian families
Debates of Feb. 6th, 2024
House of Commons Hansard #276 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Oral Questions
Jenny Kwan Vancouver East, BC
Jenny Kwan Vancouver East, BC
NDP
Mr. Speaker, Palestinian Canadian families are desperate to bring their loved ones to safety in Canada. The rollout of the special immigration measure for Gaza is riddled with problems. People have been rejected without any explanation. Some are rejected then later approved with exactly the same application. Now officials are saying the 1,000 cap has almost been reached, yet many have not received the code from IRCC to move on to the next stage.
What action is the minister taking to clean up this mess, and will he remove the arbitrary cap without further delay to save lives?
Marc Miller Minister of Immigration
Liberal
Mr. Speaker, Palestinian Canadian families are desperate to bring their loved ones to safety in Canada. The rollout of the special immigration measure for Gaza is riddled with problems. People have been rejected without any explanation. Some are rejected then later approved with exactly the same application. Now officials are saying the 1,000 cap has almost been reached, yet many have not received the code from IRCC to move on to the next stage.
What action is the minister taking to clean up this mess, and will he remove the arbitrary cap without further delay to save lives?
Marc Miller Minister of Immigration
Liberal
Mr. Speaker, that is precisely what this measure is about. It is about saving lives in the face of a humanitarian catastrophe. We have said time and time again that we will be flexible about the 1,000-person cap. Right now, the challenge is actually getting an initial list of people out who are pre-approved to cross Rafah gates. I am extremely disappointed with local authorities that we have not been able to get this through, but that will not prevent us from trying.
It is very difficult to extend these programs when we cannot even get people out. I am frustrated by it. We are in the House and I would use stronger words outside it, but we need to get those people out and into safety.
https://openparliament.ca/debates/2024/2/6/jenny-kwan-2/
