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.
Liberal
Yvan Baker Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
If the change you're talking about were made, tell me a little bit about the process. Could this family safely leave Afghanistan?
Representative for Afghan Families, Tenth Church
They could legally, or illegally, leave, but it would substantially help if the Canadian government were to issue a temporary visa for this family.
Liberal
Yvan Baker Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
What I'm wondering about—and I'm genuinely asking for your help just to understand—is how they would make their way out of Afghanistan. I'm thinking they would need to make their way to a bordering country. Am I right? Help me understand that aspect of things.
Representative for Afghan Families, Tenth Church
That's correct.
Of course, the travel would be dangerous. There are people actively searching for them to kill them, but it would be possible. Neighbouring countries have the authority to let families through if they have a visa. That would secure their onward journey.
Liberal
Yvan Baker Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
If the family doesn't have the visa and chooses to leave to go to a bordering country, what happens if they arrive at that border checkpoint without that visa?
Representative for Afghan Families, Tenth Church
There is substantial risk to that family. Even if they were to make it out to a neighbouring country, some countries are removing Afghan refugees after a maximum of three months. If they were removed back to Afghanistan, they would face incredible risk, because they would be handed back directly to the Taliban. Many families are actually not fleeing because of the risk of being sent back after a short period of time. They need to secure a safe passage to countries like Canada so that they can make the onward journey.
Liberal
Yvan Baker Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
I'm going to continue to pursue this aspect of what families would have to go through. You've spoken a little bit about the countries they would be travelling to. What about the Taliban in Afghanistan? Are there exit requirements? How would that work? How does that aspect of things work? What do people have to go through to leave Afghanistan?
We've talked about the journey, but there is also the situation at the border. Is the Taliban guarding the border? What does that process look like?
Representative for Afghan Families, Tenth Church
There is risk both to get to the border and at the border. It's a harrowing journey for people to make, knowing that they are on hit lists, that they are being hunted and that if they are identified they can be killed. It's an incredibly difficult journey, but one that many families choose to make in the hope that they can be resettled.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
Thank you very much, Mr. Baker.
For two and a half minutes, we'll go to Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe.
Please go ahead.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
What was just said was interesting. Many of you have mentioned that when these people cross the border to seek refuge, their nightmare is not over. Each neighbouring country has its own rules. From what I understand, they then appeal to local organizations or authorities.
Wouldn't their safety be better assured if Canada had representatives there? Ms. Moloney, I think you could answer that question.
Representative for Afghan Families, Tenth Church
Sorry, I think my colleague wants to respond.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Yes, go ahead, Mr. Taheri. You seem to want to answer this question.
Lawyer, As an Individual
Thank you.
Yes, definitely. The problem with the third countries is that after a certain amount of time, they will be deported. They would not extend their stay in that country. While they're waiting, they will be sent back and basically handed to the Taliban.
In fact, I had one individual, a single mom with two children, who fled to Iran. They were deported from Iran, and luckily they were able to bribe some people at the border so that they wouldn't be handed to the Taliban. They still managed to get in the country and to somehow get back. They slipped out of the country back to Pakistan, from where they managed to get out.
As mentioned, it's a very harrowing journey. It's very dangerous and fraught with all kinds of risk. If there was a possibility of helping people while in the country and providing them with some kind of mechanism to get out, using temporary visas and so on, it would be unbelievably amazing. It would save so much time and so many lives, for sure.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
That would require Canadian personnel on the ground in these third countries. That's what you are asking for, that's what you would like to see in the recommendations of the report. Do I have this right?
Liberal
Liberal
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
I have two quick questions.
One is, when you speak of the temporary residence visa, do you mean a temporary residence permit, which is something that the minister can authorize and issue to individual families who are particularly at risk? If the minister did that, they would have a travel document to try to get to safety.
I just want that clarified, and then I have another question to quickly ask.
I'll first go to Ms. Moloney, and then I'll go to Mr. Taheri.
Representative for Afghan Families, Tenth Church
That is absolutely the case.
I have applied for ministerial interventions and I am awaiting a response.
Representative for Afghan Families, Tenth Church
For these two families, actually....
I think we need to roll this out a little bit more widely than the minister having to authorize all of these. It needs to be a more streamlined approach.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
I'll just jump in very quickly.
With previous humanitarian crises that have happened.... The minister actually has the authority to broadly authorize temporary residence permits for all the people in that particular country to access. It's not a one-by-one process.
This is what you mean, for the government and the minister to issue temporary residence permits broadly to Afghans who need to get to safety. Is that right?