In a move that signals the commitment of Canada to humanitarian relief, Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced a new initiative which aims to offer temporary residence to extended family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents currently residing in Gaza.
This measure is part of a wider effort to offer safe haven for those affected by the ongoing conflict and hardships in the area.
While talking about the initiative, Miller said: “We’ll be supporting temporary residence for extended family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents in Gaza so they can come to Canada…”
The situation in Gaza is still unpredictable and volatile. To tackle this, the government is working diligently to facilitate the safe exit of Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and their eligible family members. The new program will commence by January 9, opening the door for people in the Gaza Strip with Canadian relatives to apply for temporary visas.
Meanwhile, government has stated that they cannot guarantee safe passage out of Gaza. This is majorly due to the tightly controlled Rafah border crossing, which poses a major challenge to those who want to leave Gaza.
The government will welcome applications from individuals with extended family connections to Canada. Those who meet the eligibility criteria and admissibility criteria will be issued three-year visas. Eligible family members include spouses, children, siblings, parents, and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
Also, the federal government is offering fee-exempt study permits or open work permits for immediate family members of Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Every existing and new permanent residency application for Palestinians within the family-based streams will be given priority processing. This is part of the wider strategy to ensure the safety and well-being of individuals amid the ongoing conflict.
