Immigration.ca - Canada Immigration News - January 2010
After this week’s devastating earthquake in Haiti, the government is examining how it can change immigration policies to ease entry into Canada for the victims of this tragedy.
The government is reportedly looking at fast-tracking applications, expanding definitions and waiving fees. They are also said to be considering a temporary freeze on any deportations to Haiti.
The news comes as no surprise to policy experts, especially in light of Canada’s response last year to crises in both the Philippines and Sri Lanka. In both cases, the government fast-tracked family reunification cases, allowing approximately 2,000 people to arrive more quickly.
“Our immigration system makes it extremely difficult for people to come from poor countries,” said Audrey Macklin, a University of Toronto law professor, saying that the cases in Haiti will require more than a ‘priority’ consideration. “You’re up against a whole bureaucracy set up to prevent them from coming.”
Toward that end, many are advocating the idea of expanding Canada’s definition of family so that more people can be considered for reunification. As it currently stands, only those in Canada who have immediate relatives in Haiti can apply to sponsor their arrival. This excludes any siblings, adult children, aunts, uncles, etc.
“Haiti has suffered an extreme tragedy and Canada needs to extend its support in all ways, including easing immigration restrictions,” said NDP immigration critic Olivia Chow. “It is incumbent on this government to help Haitian-Canadian families bring their relatives home, and to do so quickly.”
Source: Canadian Press
