1st Session, 44th Parliament
Volume 153, Issue 18
Monday, February 21, 2022
The Honourable George J. Furey, Speaker
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Afghan Refugees
Hon. Mobina S. B. Jaffer: Honourable senators, my question is also to the leader of the Senate. Senator Gold, I first want to thank you. The last few weeks have been very difficult, especially for you, and you have represented us really well. I want to thank you for the work you have done on our behalf.
I don’t need a response to this question, and this question would have been better last week when my colleagues Senator Ataullahjan and Senator Omidvar asked it. Senator, I just want you to make inquiries about why it’s taking so long, when our country has made a commitment to bring 40,000 Afghan refugees, why is it taking so long to process them?
I am a beneficiary of quick process from Uganda. So were the Syrians and so are many other people who were refugees fleeing from other countries. I just want you to find out what is holding up the processing, because all three of us are getting lots of inquiries. We really need to know what is holding this up so maybe we can tell people to make other arrangements. Thank you, senator.
Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Senator Jaffer, first of all, thank you for your very kind words. My mother raised me well. She said always accept a compliment even when it’s not quite deserved, and I feel in this case it isn’t deserved but it’s much appreciated.
I certainly will make inquiries. This is a situation that is troubling, not only to Canadians like you and others who are working hard on behalf, but most importantly for those either still in Afghanistan or in other countries waiting to be processed. I will do my best to get answers.
Senator Jaffer: Senator Gold, can you please also ask — when the trouble started in Afghanistan, many of us were told to work with NGOs to help the fleeing Afghans to arrive at other places, and we did. And now these people are without funds in other countries. This was done specifically by instructions from people in the government that they would be processed quickly.
May I please ask, what is holding up this process? I work with many women peace builders, and it breaks my heart that I assured them, our government assured them that their visas would be processed quickly. Now they are in Mexico and Portugal and many other areas waiting for our government to process their documents, so may I please also ask you to find out about that? Thank you.
Senator Gold: I will do my very best. Thank you.