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QUESTION PERIOD — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Ukrainian Refugees

September 27, 2023


Government leader, last week, I asked about the inexplicable delays in processing work permits for Ukrainians stuck for months in bureaucratic limbo. They came to Canada at our behest to escape death at the hands of Russian invaders. Did you bring this to the minister’s attention? What did they say? Have they reassigned folks to get through the backlog, and if so, how many?

Fleeing one country only to be abandoned by the next isn’t the kind of support and salvation we promised.

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate) [ + ]

Thank you for your question.

As I undertook to do, I certainly did bring your concerns to the attention of the minister, but I don’t have a response as yet.

All right, I’m wondering, then, if you could endeavour to determine how many resources are being put toward those files, what resources have been allocated in terms of money and people — how much and how many. Does the government know the answer to that question?

With the embarrassment that has been caused to Ukraine and the propaganda win it has now handed Russia, it is even more important that we fix this situation for the Ukrainians who are now here, waiting and desperate.

Senator Gold [ + ]

Thank you again for underlining the very challenging situations they face. I will certainly take those further considerations to the attention of the minister.

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