QUESTION PERIOD — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Granting of Temporary Visas
November 20, 2024
Senator Gold, three months into Israel’s assault and siege of Gaza, the government put in place a special temporary resident visa program for Gazans who have family in Canada. Can you tell us if that special program has resulted in the relocation of any Gazans to our country?
Thank you for your question. I don’t have the information at hand, Senator Woo, with regard to the success or the statistics around that program. The challenges for those living in Gaza are enormous, as you well know. Leaving Gaza is not always an easy task for those who try to leave for reasons I assume you know as well. I will certainly make inquiries with the minister so that I’m updated on the status of this program.
I would be grateful for an answer, but this is what 40 civil society groups have said about the program:
Anti-Arab, and specifically anti-Palestinian racism, saturates every aspect of the Special Measures program: Palestinians are denied access to financial or other forms of government support. . . .
The letter goes on and on.
Senator Gold, you are the original sponsor of the Arab Heritage Month Bill. How do you respond to that accusation?
There are many accusations that are being made in the context of this tragic war that is being fought not only in Gaza but on seven fronts, largely by forces who have been very clear of their intent. In that regard, I can only deplore the situation that people living in this war zone, innocent civilians, experience, and I hope that a measure of peace is returned to them.
