Evidence of meeting #9 for Afghanistan in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was families.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Former Interpreter, Canadian Armed Forces, As an Individual
Yes. As you may be aware, the Taliban keeps searching house by house. This started in Kabul and widened to the provinces, so some of our friends are burning their certificates back home.
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
I'm sorry, but I have the time scheduled as three minutes for each of the Liberals and Conservatives, then one and a half minutes each for Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe and Madam Jenny Kwan, so I have to come back to you in the next turn.
Thank you.
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
This is the way we are doing it. That was the agreement we came up with. I did not want to, but if I go the other way, I'll be way over time.
Thank you very much.
I'm going to now go to Mr. El-Khoury for three minutes.
Go ahead, please.
Liberal
Fayçal El-Khoury Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'd like to welcome the witnesses to our committee.
Mr. Faizi, Mr. Khan and Mr. Shoaib, I can tell you that our hearts go out to you. Thank you so much for your good work and the sacrifices you have made to help the Canadian military.
I would like you to clarify one important point. In your remarks, you always refer to the situation in Ukraine. Ukrainians can leave Ukraine without travel documents, such as passports, but the exact opposite is true when it comes to the situation in Afghanistan.
The problem is that Afghans cannot leave Afghanistan without documents.
In addition, travel documents issued by the Government of Canada can be used within Canada. The government of Pakistan will not accept these travel documents, not even for a single day.
Do you think there are any flights to the United States or Great Britain from the Kabul airport?
My question is for all witnesses.
Former Interpreter, Canadian Armed Forces, As an Individual
Yes, there are flights available from Kabul, from five major airports of Afghanistan. There are flights happening to UAE, Qatar, India and Pakistan.
Liberal
Fayçal El-Khoury Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
I'm sorry, but I asked if there were any flights to the United States or Great Britain.
Former Interpreter, Canadian Armed Forces, As an Individual
As for flights from Afghanistan to Britain, I have no data or information, but I'm pretty sure if international airlines can come to Afghanistan and they can go to any regional country then they can go anywhere in Europe.
Former Interpreter, Canadian Armed Forces, As an Individual
As Canada and the United States are the best allies with the countries that are controlling the airport in Kabul, they can create flights through countries to Qatar and then they could process and bring the applicants to Canada.
Liberal
Fayçal El-Khoury Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
I understand that you came to Canada under the special immigration measures for Afghan interpreters in 2007 and 2011.
How long did it take from the time you applied for immigration until you arrived in Canada?
Former Interpreter, Canadian Armed Forces, As an Individual
My personal application took six months. Also we had the Canadian Forces available in Kandahar, so we had zero problems like the ones our families are having now.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
Thank you very much, Mr. El-Khoury. Your three minutes is up.
Now we're going to go to Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe for 90 seconds.
Please go ahead.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I believe Mr. El‑Khoury was trying to differentiate between the situation in Afghanistan and the situation in Ukraine. I have a great deal of respect for Mr. El‑Khoury, by the way. He's one of my favourite colleagues.
Earlier, I talked about different criteria being used for Afghans than for Ukrainians. I mentioned the biometrics issue.
Mr. Khan, you said that you had already obtained security clearance and that you had worked for the Canadian military. Do you not see a dichotomy, discrepancy or issue there?
I agree that some Ukrainian groups are low-risk groups, and I understand that they have been exempted from providing their biometrics. However, why would you, the Afghan interpreters, and your family members be required to provide this data?
That's one of the things I want to address today.
Former Interpreter, Canadian Armed Forces, As an Individual
That's a great question. Thank you for pointing that out. That's one of our main debates and arguments with IRCC, that we are the people with the highest background checks and security clearances. We were sleeping in the same quarters with the Canadian higher-ups, including Canadian generals, and were attending the meetings with Canadian senators. We have no criminal problems or shady matters in our past or our present, and you have all of our information, so why are you demanding such high restrictions?
Liberal
Former Interpreter, Canadian Armed Forces, As an Individual
Can I have 15 seconds?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
Take it later, please.
I'm going to go to Madam Jenny Kwan for 90 seconds.
Please go ahead.
NDP
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
I just want to follow up on the documentation question. You're all been vetted to an extreme level. Will you all vouch for your family members?
