Thank you.
First of all, on behalf of the board of directors and members of the Afghan Association of Ontario, I would like to thank you, the members of the committee, for providing this opportunity to express our concern and share our thoughts on the subject of CIC funding cuts.
The Afghan Association of Ontario was established in 1982 by a handful of volunteers, to serve and better integrate the ever-increasing number of new Afghan Canadians into the larger Canadian society. This association began its partnership with Citizenship and Immigration Canada in 1985. Since that time, it has provided CIC-sponsored settlement and integration services to thousands of new immigrants with services at a high level of quality and professionalism.
In addition to the provision of support services to newcomers, the Afghan Association of Ontario has been a sponsorship agreement holder since 1985. This has made immigration possible for thousands of Afghans who are seeking a home in Canada's peaceful nation.
The Afghan Association of Ontario has been providing settlement services in Toronto since 1986. During that time, it has garnered a reputation for its quality in service provision, sound financial management, and strong leadership. The Afghan Association of Ontario has made a positive difference in the lives of Afghans and other immigrants and refugees by assisting them with their basic settlement needs.
For the record, since 1999-2000, the Afghan Association of Ontario has served more than 1,000 newcomers from Afghanistan. Most of them are well-established and contributing to the economy.
The Afghan community in Toronto is a growing community, which is still considered a new community in relation to other immigrant communities. The majority of newcomers have settled in the greater Toronto area within the past 10 years. The Afghan community in the GTA and surrounding areas has reached close to 80,000. In addition, based on CIC letters communicated to the Afghan Association of Ontario, Canada receives about 2,000 new Afghans each year, most of whom settle in Ontario, particularly in the greater Toronto area.
It's worth noting that the Afghan Association of Ontario has been instrumental in the settlement of newcomers who have gone on to become professionals and contributors to Canadian society. We have lawyers, medical doctors, university professors, teachers, police officers, and businessmen.
Since it's not possible to get commercial leases for recurring 12-month periods, the Afghan Association of Ontario has entered into a contractual agreement that extended beyond the funding period. Based on CIC's insistence, the Afghan Association of Ontario signed the lease agreement for five years starting in April 2008, where CIC paid its first and last two months deposit. As per contractual agreement, the Afghan Association of Ontario must continue paying the monthly rent until the end of the lease agreement, which will add up to over $300,000. We feel that CIC is leaving us with a debt of over $300,000, where we have no means or possibility to pay this back.
The Afghan Association of Ontario will lose all its staff members with immediate termination and deprive more than 4,000 Afghan clients from receiving timely settlement services. These include recently arrived Afghan immigrants from Kandahar, who are fast-tracked by the government through its special immigration measures to begin a new life in Canada in safety. We welcome this special immigration program for these 1,500 Afghans and their families, who have risked their lives and served alongside our soldiers in Kandahar. The Afghan Association of Ontario is playing, and will play, a critical role in their socio-cultural adjustment, integration, and settlement in Canada.
Therefore, there will be an immediate impact on their settlement and future well-being in Canada.
There are more than 120,000 Afghan Canadians living throughout Canada whose relatives would most probably choose Ontario as their permanent home or starting point for their future residency in Canada.
The news of cutting funds and the closure of the Afghan Association of Ontario has had an already negative impact and reaction in so many ways. We would like to see full reinstatement of the current funding for the Afghan Association of Ontario so that there is no loss of services to new immigrants in our Afghan community.
Second, there would be a requirement that CIC consult with the provincial government and the sector to ensure that changes of this magnitude incorporate all relevant factors and perspectives and have advanced planning and clear communications.
In closing, I would like to mention that in addition to our settlement services, as a larger Afghan Canadian diaspora organization we have always supported Canada's engagement in Afghanistan in its efforts to bring peace and stability to the Afghan people and to the region. We have promoted Canada's mission, not only in the Afghan community but also to the larger population here and abroad. Our community representatives have engaged with the Government of Canada, federal ministers, and other government officials, including members of the Canadian Armed Forces.
Thank you.