Evidence of meeting #7 for Afghanistan in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was taliban.
A video is available from Parliament.
7:10 p.m.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Sure. We'll start with Ms. MacLean.
Maybe you can give a quick answer so that we can move through the process with others.
7:10 p.m.
Documentarian, Producer of Burkas2Bullets, As an Individual
Thank you.
I believe that IRCC is completely understaffed. Our embassies, particularly in Pakistan, need to have more staff. They're overwhelmed. I have two families who have waited two months in Pakistan just for one interview, and that has not occurred.
It is about staffing. We need to increase the numbers. IRCC is overwhelmed, and they are not able to process the files.
7:10 p.m.
Lawyer, As an Individual
To me, it's mind-boggling that the government is so firm in not waiving this requirement. Back in August, I actually wrote an open letter to the Prime Minister and the other ministers involved. It was submitted to them. That was one of my recommendations right at the outset.
Subsequently, at every meeting we've had, this issue was raised, and we were promised that likely they would think about the technicalities and get back to us, but so far it hasn't been done. It would make so much sense, and it would make the work of resettling Afghans a lot easier.
Most important, as I stated, there are a lot of Canadian groups in Canada who are willing, ready and able to actually undertake all the work that is needed to settle these refugees in Canada, including the costs—
7:10 p.m.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Thank you. I'm sorry. I don't mean to cut you off, but I need to get to the next witness.
I will go to Ms. Kandalaft.
7:10 p.m.
Representative for Afghan Families, Tenth Church
Yes. That's not official yet. I'm going by my maiden name here.
I think the reason why Canada is not issuing temporary visas for Afghans where they are for Ukrainians is that there is a perception of badness. I think there is a fear that Afghans fleeing the Taliban may in fact be Taliban, and while that is not substantiated, I think that's the fear.
7:10 p.m.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
I'd like to follow up with you, Katherine, if I may.
One of the key issues, of course, is about family reunification, which you have illustrated and pointed out. In fact, I'm a product of Canada's immigration process, whereby extended family could sponsor someone to come. That's what happened to me and my family back in the 1970s, yet successive governments have done away with this program, and now we're only bringing it forward on a selective basis to selected individuals.
Is your number one priority to say to the government that they at least should expand the extended family reunification sponsorship program to Afghans as well?
7:10 p.m.
Representative for Afghan Families, Tenth Church
Absolutely. That is the message that the Afghan community is pushing for the government. Yes.
7:10 p.m.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Okay.
Now, one of the issues we've heard from other witnesses is this. Many people are in Afghanistan. They can't get out. The requirement for the program is that you have to be in a third country, but they can't get out to a third country. Other witnesses have indicated, though, that the Canadian government can deploy the military and other resources to help Afghans get to safety and into Canada. What are your thoughts on that?
We'll start with you, Katherine, and then we'll go up the list.
7:15 p.m.
Representative for Afghan Families, Tenth Church
Thank you.
With regard specifically to families of Afghan Canadians here, I think that if they are in receipt of a visa, then they are able to cross a border to Pakistan and get to Canada, so the Canadian government is able to offer safety to people who are in Afghanistan and are at risk.
7:15 p.m.
NDP
7:15 p.m.
Documentarian, Producer of Burkas2Bullets, As an Individual
Actually, I have helped three families, first to leave Afghanistan legally through visas and passports, and then to have them moved to Pakistan, because Canada does not have a presence and would not allow interviews for my refugee families from Iran, which I think is also a mistake. Iran was safe, and cheaper. Pakistan is overwhelmed. We have to pay $250 every two months to get two-month visas. Pakistan is not allowing longer visas for the refugees, so it's a cheap cash crunch.
7:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
Thank you, Ms. Kwan. That is your time.
Now we'll go to Mr. Ruff for five minutes, please.
7:15 p.m.
Conservative
Alex Ruff Conservative Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON
Thanks, Chair.
My thanks to the witnesses. I don't even know where to start here. You've reaffirmed, in the bad sense, just how bad things are. I had two tours in Afghanistan. I know first-hand what the Taliban is capable of doing. I, myself, and you and others had been speaking out about this before Kabul even fell. As you said, Ms. MacLean, it was shameful that we arrived late and we were out early.
I just want all the witnesses to again highlight—because I think your testimony did it phenomenally—why it's so important to get them out. I know some of you have refugees or Afghans who are already out of the country, but I really want you to, again, highlight briefly the risk faced by these former Afghan women police officers, former Afghan police, etc.
Would you like to start, Ms. Moloney?
7:15 p.m.
Representative for Afghan Families, Tenth Church
Sure. I don't know if there's time, but I would love to give a couple of examples.
I would like to give two representative examples of families who could be helped if Canada introduces an expanded special family reunification program specific to the Afghan crisis. At the outset, I note that I use these examples with the permission of the Canadian-based family members of both families and I'll refrain from using names of people or organizations, which could identify these families.
The Canadian-based family member of family A is an absolute delight. She's a social butterfly with a bubbly personality and a beautiful heart. She is beloved by all. She works two jobs and in addition to her own family, provides financial support to multiple families in Afghanistan. When she was living in Afghanistan, the Canadian-based member of family A held a senior role supporting literary programs throughout the country. She undertook this at great personal risk and in time was forced to flee for her life. Because she is a high-profile female, her family faces deferred risk of Taliban reprisals. They are also at risk due to their own activities. Indeed, this is a family of prominent women's rights activists and human rights defenders. The sisters in particular face extreme risk. The younger sister has had her activism televised nationally.
Since taking over in August, the Taliban have forcibly entered and searched the family's home. Mercifully, the family narrowly escaped through a window. Around the same time, the Taliban issued the entire family with an order of execution. The family are now in hiding. Believing that they would increase their risk of capture if they remain together, they have separated in the hope that at least half of them will survive. All face extreme and immediate risk of execution if captured.
With family B, the Canadian-based member of family B is a really great guy. At first he may come across as rather serious and formal, and he certainly is a structured thinker who ponders matters deeply, but he also has a brilliant dry sense of humour and he's well respected in the community. He is a senior professional who works a second job so that he can provide for his Afghan-based family. My husband and I really enjoy spending time with him.
The Canadian-based member of family B was engaged in economic development when he was in Afghanistan, but fled to Canada when his work made him a target of Taliban reprisals. He is now a responsible Canadian citizen. His Afghan-based family are passionate about nation building, community development and the defence of human rights. The father served for almost two decades as a leader in the community and a high-profile social activist who even co-founded a non-profit organization. Tragically, the father was murdered by the Taliban in 2020.
The female-headed household remaining in Afghanistan comprises the mother and three adult siblings. The three siblings, who have all served in the non-profit organization, are well-known women's rights activists and human rights defenders. In response, the Taliban have issued a letter to the non-profit that condemns all workers to death. Moreover, the daughter, who has additional vulnerabilities, is now facing an imminent forced marriage by an influential family who have the support of the Taliban. Her brothers have been threatened with death if they don't hand the sister over to a marriage that is against her wishes. Because of the multiple and immediate threats to their lives, the two brothers are now in hiding and living separate from their mother and sister, who are housebound. Their situation remains extremely precarious.
7:20 p.m.
Conservative
Alex Ruff Conservative Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON
Thanks, Ms. Moloney, for highlighting the importance of getting these people out of Afghanistan now.
7:20 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
Thank you, Mr. Ruff.
We'll go to Mr. Baker for five minutes.
Please go ahead.
7:20 p.m.
Liberal
Yvan Baker Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
Thanks very much, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to all of our witnesses for their testimony here today.
Ms. Moloney, I want to follow up, if I may, on what you were just saying. You were talking about family B. Forgive me if I misunderstood the specific circumstances, but I'm wondering if you could tell us a little bit about how we could help family B, in your view.
7:20 p.m.
Representative for Afghan Families, Tenth Church
In my view, this family, and all Afghan families who are at risk, should have the capacity to be resettled in Canada.
The current situation is that they cannot be reunified because they are parents and siblings, and therefore they don't fall under the classification of family reunification. If we were to extend the definition of families for the Afghan crisis, specific to family reunification, this family and other families in similar situations could find safety in Canada and be supported by their Canadian-based family member.
7:20 p.m.
Liberal
Yvan Baker Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
Ms. Moloney, are family B that you were describing currently in Afghanistan?