Opposition parties in Ottawa, and Ukrainians, are eagerly awaiting a relaxation of immigration rules for civilians forced out of war in eastern Europe. However, the government risks falling once again into a “political” calculation, warns an expert.
“I support the expedited process [déjà proposé par le gouvernement]. Beyond that, we have to have a visa-free process. We are in a crisis, in a war,” chanted the leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP) Jagmeet Singh, during a press conference on Wednesday.
His party suggests that Canada let down many of its Afghan collaborators during the Taliban’s takeover, and should not repeat the same mistake. Jagmeet Singh demands the establishment of a “clear, simple and fast process”, without visas or barriers, to facilitate the entry into Canada of Ukrainians.
All the other opposition parties agree with him on this aspect.
“Canada has always been a welcoming place for those displaced by war. Will the Prime Minister commit to allowing visa-free arrival of Ukrainians who want to come to Canada to find refuge? Interim Conservative Leader Candice Bergen asked during question period on Tuesday.
The parliamentary leader of the Bloc Québécois, Alain Therrien, also argued the day before that the Canadian government “can lift visas to speed up the arrival in Canada of Ukrainians who want to take refuge there temporarily. »
“Political” withdrawal of the visa
According to Christina Clark-Kazak, a professor at the University of Ottawa and an expert in migration and refugee policy, if Ottawa does not lift the visa requirement, as many are demanding, it is because it fears to create a precedent. “If Canada lifts the visa requirement for Ukraine, it will have to remove it for other countries such as Afghanistan, Syria…”, she explains. “The visa issue is always political and politicized. »
Canada generally imposes a visa on nationals of countries experiencing great political or economic instability, from which a large number of asylum applications could come. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, 650,000 Ukrainians have fled to neighboring countries since the start of the conflict.
A week after the start of the Russian invasion, the federal government still has very little to offer Ukrainians wishing to come to the country, the Homework immigration experts. For example, Ottawa has still not announced a special program to welcome refugees, as during the Afghan crisis last August.
“The government is watching what’s happening in Europe and its allies,” Clark-Kazak said. They’re waiting to see the political pressure [locale] and if they really need to do something. This is a calculation that Canada makes. »
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau assured that an express lane, dedicated to Ukraine, has been set up by the Department of Immigration. “Requests related to Ukraine are given priority, and [son gouvernement continue] to work on new measures, ”he promised in the House on Tuesday.
The Federal Minister for Immigration must also take part in a press conference organized at the end of the afternoon, Wednesday.
New announcements expected
Mme Clark-Kazak nevertheless believes that under popular and political pressure, the government will not sit idly by and will propose other measures or programs very soon. This could take the form of a family reunification program or a more specific resettlement program. Private sponsorship could also be encouraged, allowing Canadian residents to bring in family members.
“Even in Europe, we saw a response, in my opinion, very generous,” she says. Indeed, the European Commission recommends granting immediate protection to Ukrainian refugees, with a temporary residence permit and a work permit.
For now, Ukrainians are promised to put Ukrainian immigration applications (visa, permanent residence, family reunification, etc.) ahead of those of others. Mme Clark-Kazak is not against the fact of processing certain requests in priority when there is urgency. This was the case when the Afghan crisis escalated last August.
“Obviously the Ukrainians need protection, but so do the Afghans, the Syrians, the Rohingyas,” she points out. “If we prioritize, we know that resources are limited and that there will be fewer for other refugees. »
For the leader of the NDP, Canada should indeed consider lifting a visa for all similar humanitarian crisis situations. “It’s the reality, there are crises happening, and we have to do our part as global citizens,” concluded Jagmeet Singh.