Humanitarian, Refugees and Foreign Affairs

OPEN LETTER: Special Immigration Measure for Refugee Crisis in Lebanon

Israel’s war on Lebanon has displaced almost one million people. Increasingly, families have no home to return to. Nearly 600,000 people have crossed from Lebanon into Syria. The past few weeks have been the deadliest and the most devastating for Lebanon and people in decades,” said UNHCR Representative in Lebanon, Ivo Freijsen.

The federal government set a standard in the design of the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program. Regardless of the magnitude of the crisis this program has never been repeated for any other Canadian family members in other conflict zone. Former Minister of IRCC Sean Fraser was informed by his immigration officials that CUAET “would set a significant precedent” and “an expectation

that it could be done for other population.” Officials are correct to assume that Canadians expect the government to be fair and equitable in applying Canada's immigration policies.

Immigration.ca NEWS: Canada Braces for Border Surge Amid Threat of Mass US Deportations Under Trump

Despite Joly’s assurances, immigration advocates and opposition politicians urge Ottawa to develop a proactive humanitarian plan. NDP MP Jenny Kwan called for transparency, saying, “What needs to happen is for them to be open and transparent with Canadians.” Ensuring preparedness at the border and readiness to provide essential services could be critical in mitigating the pressures of a sudden increase in asylum seekers.

Globe NEWS: Ministers urged to explain how they will prevent a surge in asylum seekers from U.S. after Trump election

NDP immigration critic Jenny Kwan said Ottawa needed to prepare for the arrivals of migrants. She said most asylum seekers arriving at border points from the U.S. would be turned back because of the Safe Third Country Agreement. However, she questioned whether the U.S. should continue to be considered by Canada as a safe third country for migrants after Mr. Trump is sworn in as president.

She said during Mr. Trump’s previous administration, migrants facing deportation were separated from their children and, in some cases, “put in cages.” She added that during the campaign, Mr. Trump also used discriminatory language about undocumented residents.

CP24 NEWS: Joly says Canada's immigration plan stands in face of Trump deportation threats

 

Anti-immigration policies and rhetoric during his first administration prompted a surge of migrants into Canada, in particular at a rural border road in Quebec.

Canada recently announced plans to cut back on the number of newcomers and Joly said that won’t change when asked Thursday by a reporter what Canada’s plan is for a possible surge of migrants.

“We want a migration system that Canadians trust,” Joly said. “We will defend it, and that’s why also we decided to lower the immigration targets 20 per cent to have the trust of the Canadian people in it.”

NDP MP Jenny Kwan said Ottawa needs a plan that will prepare for an influx of migrants in a humanitarian way.

“What needs to happen is for them to be open and transparent with Canadians,” she said.

Immigration.ca NEWS: Canada Introduces Temporary Immigration Measures For Those Fleeing Lebanon

NDP immigration critic Jenny Kwan questioned why the Ukrainian emergency visa program has not been repeated for people in other conflict zones.

“The government has announced measures for those who have already left Lebanon, but nothing for those who are in still in grave danger and desperate to get to safety, Kwan said.

 

CTV NEWS: Communication issues, double standard for Lebanese-Canadians trying to escape war, says lawyer

"At the time, officials actually pointed out to (the Liberal government) that this would be precedent-setting and it would be difficult for them to explain why they would not apply this to any other countries that might be in conflict zones where Canadians have loved ones and in grave danger. And those officials are exactly right," said federal NDP Immigration Critic Jenny Kwan. 

"What the communities and what the NDP wants for the government to do is to treat all the communities equitably and fairly," added Kwan. "They say that it's discriminatory, they say for Ukrainians they have this high standard of special immigration measure, but that measure is not being applied for anyone else. Not for Lebanese, not for Palestinians in Gaza, not for Afghans who served Canada... all of those have limitations and are not nearly as broad as the Ukrainian measures."

"So, people are asking, ‘what is the difference?’ and the obvious answer for them is the colour of their skin."

Hill Times NEWS: Concern mounts over how immigration cuts will hit slow-moving program for Sudanese war refugees

 

NDP Jenny Kwan (Vancouver East, B.C.), her party’s immigration critic, told The Hill Times that the Sudanese family reunification is “deficient” and “extremely restrictive.”

She said the regime for Sudanese family members stands in contrast to the speed and size of the program to bring Ukrainians fleeing the war to Canada.

“Community members are rightfully pointing out the stark difference of the political decision of the government to facilitate special immigration measures from one country versus that of others,” Kwan said. “How is it that the government can come in with an arbitrary cap of 3,250? And then when we’re talking about the Ukrainian situation, there was no cap.”

“You have to question: why do some countries with conflict situations have caps and others don’t?”

Kwan, speaking to The Hill Times prior to the unveiling of the new immigration levels plan, said a reduction would exacerbate the situation.

“I am very worried about that—that the government will choose political expediency over lives,” she said.

After the release of the new plan, Kwan said in a statement that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Papineau, Ont.) announced the changes thinking that “scapegoating newcomers will somehow turn his political fortunes around.”

 

Parliament VIDEO: "Sudanese Canadians deserve equitable treatment in the world's largest displacement crisis"

HANSARD: QP Question on Sudan

HANSARD: Members Statement on Sudan