HANSARD - With Pakistan cracking down on Afghans, what action is the government taking to ensure Afghans who served Canada are not thrown into prison or sent back to the Taliban?
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Oral Questions
October 20th, 2022 / 2:45 p.m.
Jenny Kwan Vancouver East, BC
NDP
Oral Questions
October 20th, 2022 / 2:45 p.m.
Jenny Kwan Vancouver East, BC
NDP
Mr. Speaker, the Pakistani government is cracking down on Afghans with threats of deportation and imprisonment by the end of the year. As they wait for the special immigration measure application to be processed, many Afghans' 60-day visas have already expired. For others, they will expire soon.
Processing delays and the arbitrary cap that limits the number of Afghans who served Canada who can get to safety are going to cost lives. The situation is more urgent than ever. What action is the government taking to ensure Afghans who served Canada are not thrown into prison or sent back to the Taliban?
Marie-France Lalonde
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration
Orléans, Ontario
Liberal
Mr. Speaker, listen, we remain firm on our commitment to resettle at least 40,000 Afghan nationals to Canada and to do this as quickly and safely as possible. We are processing applications day and night for Afghan refugees, and we have mobilized our entire workforce in helping.
What I am most proud of is that, as of just a few days ago, 311 Afghans can now call Canada home. We have almost 23,000 Afghans here, and we will continue to work with Afghans. Our government is fully committed—
Liberal
Mr. Speaker, listen, we remain firm on our commitment to resettle at least 40,000 Afghan nationals to Canada and to do this as quickly and safely as possible. We are processing applications day and night for Afghan refugees, and we have mobilized our entire workforce in helping.
What I am most proud of is that, as of just a few days ago, 311 Afghans can now call Canada home. We have almost 23,000 Afghans here, and we will continue to work with Afghans. Our government is fully committed—
