(Ottawa) By announcing that Ottawa agreed to temporarily open its doors to relatives of Canadians stuck in Gaza, Immigration Minister Marc Miller conceded that it was a gesture of “hope” , with the Rafah border crossing still sealed.
But “yes, it’s worth it,” and “it’s the right thing to do,” he said at a press conference in Ottawa.
“I think you have to show effort; there are many families in Canada waiting for their loved ones, and there are people who may have stayed [à Gaza] because people in their family were not part of the definition [de personne autorisée à évacuer] “, explained Minister Miller.
PHOTO SPENCER COLBY, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Marc Miller
The first measure of this migration program, which will be fully operational on January 9, consists of offering Gazans who have extended family in Canada access to temporary residence for three years.
In unveiling this relaxation, the minister noted that the Canadian government had obtained “no guarantee” from the Israeli state, Hamas or Egypt “that these people will be able to leave”, but that Ottawa intended to “deploy the necessary effort”, because “it’s worth it”.
Minister Miller does not have precise figures as to the number of people who could benefit from this temporary measure of reception in Canada.
“But we are thinking in the hundreds,” he estimated.
If these people actually managed to escape from the Palestinian enclave, they would be transported to Cairo, where Canadian authorities would carry out security checks.
The rest of the trip would be at their expense, but the government could provide loans if necessary, according to what the minister indicated.
Canada managed to evacuate more than 600 of its citizens, permanent residents and their relatives through the Rafah post, which has since closed behind the population.
Israeli missiles continue to rain down in the skies over Gaza, despite calls for restraint from various countries, including Canada.
Open study or work permits
The other measure put forward by the federal government affects people who have already left Israel and the Palestinian territories since the start of the conflict as well as Israelis and Palestinians who are already in Canada, and who do not wish to return to the region.
These people will be able to apply for a study permit or open work permit free of charge.
The Trudeau government’s announcement comes after New Democrats had been calling for the implementation of special immigration measures for some time.
MP Jenny Kwan welcomed the measures presented by the federal government, even if they should have been “a long time ago”, she reported in a press release.
“Families have been waiting for this day for too long,” she added.