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.

Dear Minister Miller,

Open Letter Re: Special Immigration Measures for Refugee Crisis in Lebanon

We write you today to raise our deep concerns on your inaction and inequitable treatment in response to the unfolding refugee crisis in Lebanon.

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.

We urge you to stop preferential treatment for one group of refugees over others. The temporary immigration measure that you have announced is limited to those who have already left Lebanon on or after September 29, 2024, and are in Canada with valid temporary resident status. Your government’s policy continues to neglect Lebanese Canadian family members who are in still in grave danger and desperate to get to safety.

This is unfair and unacceptable. These are Canadians family members, including spouse and children, who are being left behind by Canada as they face urgent evacuation orders and indiscriminate bombing from a foreign state.

We are utterly appalled that to date you have not announce any special immigration measures to bring, at the bare minimum, immediate family members of Canadians to Canada on a temporary basis.

Moreover, those who have submitted applications previously are facing unconscionable visa delays as homes are being bombed and Israel continues issuing evacuation notices to entire neighborhoods.

Lebanese Canadian families are desperate to bring their family members to safety and they deserve fair and equitable treatment and it's unconscionable that Canadian family members must consider leaving their spouse or children behind.

Recognizing this urgency, we demand you promptly implement special immigration measures to bring immediate and extended family members of Lebanese Canadians and permanent residents to Canada with identical settlement supports offered through the CUAET program. We further call on you to increase resources to IRCC’s Beirut Visa Office to urgently fast-track the processing of spousal and child sponsorship applications.

As the world is in grave turmoil, the 2025 - 2027 Immigration Levels Plan which you tabled in the House of Commons on October 24, 2024, reduces the target admittance for refugees by 31,800 spots over the next two years, only further delaying asylum and reunification for people facing systems of persecution around the world. This is wrong. Canada was once a leader and a beacon of hope in the international community.

Now is not the time to turn your back on those in desperate need. We call on you to take immediate action to expeditiously bring displaced Lebanese Canadian family members to Canada. Thank you for your urgent attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

Jenny Kwan, MP

Vancouver East

NDP Critic for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Blake Desjarlais, MP

Edmonton – Griesbach

NDP Critic for Indigenous Housing, Deputy Critic for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

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